EXHIBIT 4.8

SP MANWEB PLC

CONFORMED DISTRIBUTION LICENCE

AUGUST 2003 WORKING COPY

August 2003 working copy - updated by SP Transmission & Distribution to reflect licence modifications up to August 2003

CONTENTS

PRELIMINARY
PART I. TERMS OF THE LICENCE		5
PART II. THE STANDARD CONDITIONS		7
PART III. AMENDMENTS TO STANDARD LICENCE CONDITIONS		9
CONSOLIDATED STANDARD CONDITIONS
SECTION A.     INTERPRETATION, APPLICATION AND PAYMENTS		10
1.	Definitions and Interpretation	10
2.	Application of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)	33
3.	Payments by Licensee to the Authority	36
SECTION B.     GENERAL		39
4.	Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency	39
4A.	Non-Discrimination in the Provision of Use of System And Connection to System	44
4B.	Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection	45
4C.	Functions of the Authority	50
5.	Distribution System Planning Standard and Quality of Service	52
6.	Safety and Security of Supplies Enquiry Service	53
7.	Provision of Information about Theft or Abstraction of Electricity, Damage and Meter Interference	55
8.	Provisions Relating to the Connection of Metering Equipment	56
9.	Distribution Code	58
9A.	Compliance with other Distribution Codes	61
10.	Balancing and Settlement Code and NETA Implementation	62
11.	Change Co-ordination for NETA	65
12.	Settlement Agreement for Scotland	66

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12A.	Compliance with the Trading Code in Scotland	67
13.	Change Co-ordination for the Utilities Act 2000	68
14.	Provision of the Metering Point Administration Service and Compliance with the Master Registration Agreement	70
14A	Basis of Charges for Metering Point Administration Services: Requirements for Transparency	72
14B	Non-Discrimination in the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services	74
14C	Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services	75
14D	Functions of the Authority	77
15.	Compliance with the Grid Codes	79
16.	Security Arrangements	80
17.	Provision of Services for Persons who are of Pensionable Age or Disabled or Chronically Sick	81
18.	Provision of Services for Persons who are Blind or Deaf	82
19.	Code of Practice on Procedures with Respect to Site Access	83
20.	Payments in Relation to Standards of Performance	84
21.	Complaint Handling Procedure	85
22.	Preparation, Review of and Compliance with Customer Service Codes	86
23.	Record of and Report on Performance	88
24.	Provision of Information to the Authority	89
25.	Long Term Development Statement	91
26.	Compliance with CUSC	94
27.	Not used	96
28.	Not used	96
29.	Disposal of Relevant Assets	97
30.	Not used	100
31.	Not used	100
SECTION C.     DISTRIBUTION SERVICES OBLIGATIONS		101
32.	Interpretation of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)	101
32A.	Convenience Customers	102
33.	Not used	103

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34.	Compulsory Acquisition of Land etc.	104
35.	Other Powers etc.	105
36.	Basis of Charges for Distributor Metering and Data Services: Requirements for Transparency	106
36A.	Non-Discrimination in the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services	108
36B.	Requirement to offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services	109
36C.	Functions of the Authority	112
37.	The Metering Point Administration Service and the Master Registration Agreement	114
38.	Establishment of a Data Transfer Service	116
39.	Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business	119
40.	Appointment of Compliance Officer	121
41.	Prohibition of Cross-Subsidies	124
42.	Regulatory Accounts	125
42A.	Change of Financial Year	130
43.	Restriction on Activity and Financial Ring Fencing	132
44.	Availability of Resources	135
45.	Undertaking from Ultimate Controller	138
46.	Credit Rating of Licensee	139
47.	Indebtedness	140
48.	Last Resort Supply: Payment Claims	143
49.	Incentive Scheme and Associated Information	147
SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND SCHEDULES
PART IV.     SPECIAL CONDITIONS		154
A: Definitions		154
B: Restriction of distribution charges		160
Annex A to Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges)		168

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Annex B to Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges)	180
Annex C to Special Condition B (Restriction of Distribution Charges)	181
Annex D To Special Condition B (Restriction Of Distribution Charges)	185
C: Restriction of distribution charges: adjustments	189
D: Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions	190
E: Allowances in respect of Security costs	194
F: Duration of charge restriction conditions	197
Schedule A: supplementary provisions of the charge restriction conditions	199
Condition G: Incentive Scheme: Calculation of charge restriction adjustment	211
SCHEDULE 1 - SPECIFIED AREA	221
SCHEDULE 2 - REVOCATION	222
SCHEDULE 3 - DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AREA	225
CONSENTS AND DIRECTIONS
(01.04.92)         Direction issued under Condition 27 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 29 of this licence	227
(19.04.00)         Direction issued under Condition 12 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 39 of this licence	232
(19.04.00)         Direction issued under Condition 12 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 39 of this licence	235
(28.07.00)         Direction issued under Condition 12 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 39 of this licence	238
(01.10.01)         Consent issued under Standard Condition 47 of this licence	242
(01.10.01)         General Consent issued under Standard Condition 29 of this licence	244

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PRELIMINARY

PART I. TERMS OF THE LICENCE

1. This licence, treated as granted under section 6(l)(c) of the Electricity Act 1989 (“the Act”) authorises Manweb plc (a company registered in England & Wales under number 02366937 (“the licensee”) whose registered office is situated at Manweb House, Chester Business Park, Wrexham Road, Chester, CH4 9RF to distribute electricity for the purpose of giving a supply to any premises or enabling a supply to be so given in the area specified in Schedule 1 during the period specified in paragraph 3 below, subject to:-

(a) the standard conditions of electricity distribution of licences referred to in Part II below which shall have effect in the licence subject to such amendments (if any) as are set out in Part III below (together “the conditions”);

(b) the special conditions, if any, set out in Part IV below (“the Special Conditions”); and

(c) such Schedules hereto, if any, as may be referenced in the conditions, the Special Conditions or the terms of the licence.

2. This licence is subject to transfer, modification or amendment in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Special Conditions or the conditions.

3. This licence, unless revoked in accordance with Schedule 2, shall continue until determined by not less than 25 years’ notice in writing given by the Authority to the licensee.

4. The provisions of section 109(1) of the Act (Service of documents) shall have effect as if set out herein and as if for the words “this Act” there were substituted the words “the licence”.

5. Without prejudice to sections 11 and 23(1) of the Interpretation Act 1978, Parts I to IV inclusive of and the Schedules to this licence shall be interpreted and construed in like manner as an Act of Parliament passed after the commencement of the Interpretation Act 1978.

6. References in this licence to a provision of any enactment, where, after the date of this licence

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(a) the enactment has been replaced or supplemented by another enactment, and

(b) such enactment incorporates a corresponding provision in relation to fundamentally the same subject matter,

shall be construed, so far as the context permits, as including a reference to the corresponding provision of that other enactment.

7. Pursuant to paragraph 6 of standard condition 2 (Application of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)) of the Electricity Distribution Licence the “distribution services area” is specified in Schedule 3 hereto.

Pursuant to a licensing scheme made by the Secretary of State under Part II of schedule 7 to the Utilities Act 2000 on 28th September 2001 this licence was made and is treated as granted under section 6(l)(c) of the Electricity Act 1989.

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PART II. THE STANDARD CONDITIONS

Standard conditions in effect in this licence

Section A	Section B	Section C
Standard condition 1	Standard condition 4	Standard condition 32
Standard condition 2	Standard condition 4A	Standard condition 32A
Standard condition 3	Standard condition 4B	Standard condition 34
	Standard condition 4C	Standard condition 35
	Standard condition 5	Standard condition 36
	Standard condition 6	Standard condition 36A
	Standard condition 7	Standard condition 36B
	Standard condition 8	Standard condition 36C
	Standard condition 9	Standard condition 37
	Standard condition 9A	Standard condition 38
	Standard condition 10	Standard condition 39
	Standard condition 11	Standard condition 40
	Standard condition 12	Standard condition 41
	Standard condition 12A	Standard condition 42
	Standard condition 13	Standard condition 42A
	Standard condition 14	Standard condition 43
	Standard condition 14A	Standard condition 44
	Standard condition 14B	Standard condition 45
	Standard condition 14C	Standard condition 46
	Standard condition 14D	Standard condition 47
	Standard condition 15	Standard condition 48
	Standard condition 16	Standard condition 49
	Standard condition 17
	Standard condition 18
	Standard condition 19

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Standard condition 20

Standard condition 21

Standard condition 22

Standard condition 23

Standard condition 24

Standard condition 25

Standard condition 26

Standard condition 29

Note: A copy of the current standard conditions of electricity distribution licences can be inspected at the principal office of the Authority. The above list is correct at the date of this licence but may be changed by subsequent amendments or modifications to the licence. The authoritative up-to-date version of this licence is available for public inspection at the principal office of the Authority.

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PART III. AMENDMENTS TO STANDARD LICENCE CONDITIONS

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CONSOLIDATED STANDARD CONDITIONS

SECTION A. INTERPRETATION, APPLICATION AND PAYMENTS

Condition 1. Definitions and Interpretation

1. In these standard conditions, unless the context otherwise requires:

the “Act”	means the Electricity Act 1989.
“affiliate”	in relation to the licensee means any holding company of the licensee, any subsidiary of the licensee or any subsidiary of a holding company of the licensee in each case within the meaning of section 736, 736A and 736B of the Companies Act 1985.
“alternative accounting rules”	for the purposes of standard condition 42 (Regulatory Accounts) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“amendment”	for the purposes of standard condition 49 (Incentive Scheme and Associated Information) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“Application Regulations”	means the Electricity (Applications for Licences and Extensions and Restrictions of Licences) Regulations 2001.
“appropriate time”	for the purposes of standard condition 39 (Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business) only, has the meaning given in that condition.

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“auditors”	means the licensee’s auditors for the time being holding office in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 1985.
“authorised”	in relation to any business or activity means authorised by licence granted or treated as granted under section 6 or by exemption granted under section 5 of the Act.
“authorised electricity operator”	means any person (other than the licensee) who is authorised to generate, transmit, distribute, or supply electricity and shall include any person who has made an application to be so authorised which application has not been refused and any person transferring electricity to or from or across an interconnector or Scottish interconnection or who has made an application for use of an interconnector or Scottish interconnection which has not been refused.
the “Authority”	means the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority established under section 1 of the Utilities Act 2000.
“BSC”	for the purposes of Section B only, has the meaning given in standard condition 10 (Balancing and Settlement Code and NETA Implementation).
“ BSC Framework Agreement”	for the purposes of standard condition 10 (Balancing and Settlement Code and NETA Implementation) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“bilateral agreement”	for the purposes of standard condition 26 (Compliance with CUSC) only, has the meaning given in that condition.

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“charge restriction conditions”	for the purposes of standard condition 49 (Incentive Scheme and Associated Information) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“charging review date”	for the purposes of standard condition 49 (Incentive Scheme and Associated Information) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“competent authority”	for the purposes of standard condition 39 (Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“confidential information”	for the purposes of standard condition 39 (Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“consolidated distribution business”	for the purposes of standard condition 42 (Regulatory Accounts) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“construction agreement”	for the purposes of standard condition 26 (Compliance with CUSC) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“Consumer Council”	means the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council as established under section 2 of the Utilities Act 2000.

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“convenience customers”	means customers supplied or requiring to be supplied at any premises which are (i) connected to the licensee’s distribution system; and (ii) situated within the distribution services area of a distribution services provider other than the licensee.
“core industry documents”	for the purposes of standard conditions 10 (Balancing and Settlement Code and NETA Implementation) and 11 (Change Co-ordination for NETA) only, has the meaning given in standard condition 10; and for the purposes of standard condition 26 (Compliance with CUSC) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“cross-default obligation”	for the purposes of standard condition 47 (Indebtedness) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“current cost assets”	for the purposes of standard condition 42 (Regulatory Accounts) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“CUSC”	for the purposes of standard condition 26 (Compliance with CUSC) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“CUSC Framework agreement”	for the purposes of standard condition 26 (Compliance with CUSC) only, has the meaning given in that condition.

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“customer”	means any person supplied or requiring to be supplied with electricity at any premises in Great Britain, but shall not include any authorised electricity operator in its capacity as such.
“data aggregation”	has the meaning given in standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services).
“data processing”	has the meaning given in standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services).
“data retrieval”	has the meaning given in standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services).
“data transfer service”	for the purposes of Section C only, has the meaning given in standard condition 32 (Interpretation of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)).
“declared net capacity”	means, in relation to generation plant, the highest generation of electricity at the main alternator terminals which can be maintained for an indefinite period of time without causing damage to the plant, less so much of that capacity as is consumed by the plant.
“disposal”	for the purposes of standard condition 29 (Disposal of Relevant Assets) only, has the meaning given in that condition.

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“distribution arrangements”	has the meaning given in standard condition 25 (Long Term Development Statement).
“distribution business”	means a business of the licensee, or in relation to sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) below, and except to the extent otherwise specified by the authority in a direction to the licensee, any business of any affiliate or related undertaking of the licensee comprising:
	(a)	the distribution of electricity through the licensee’s distribution system, including any business in providing connections to such system;
	(b)	the provision of the services specified in sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) of paragraph 1 of standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services); and
	(c)	the provision of the services specified in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 of standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services),
	or any business ancillary thereto.
“Distribution Code”	means a distribution code required to be prepared by a licensed distributor pursuant to standard condition 9 (Distribution Code) and approved by the Authority as revised from time to time with the approval of the Authority.

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“distribution licence”	means a distribution licence granted or treated as granted under section 6(1)(c) of the Act.
“distribution services area”	has the meaning given at sub-paragraph 5(b) of standard condition 2 (Application of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)).
“Distribution Services Direction”	has the meaning given in standard condition 2 (Application of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)).
“distribution services provider”	means a licensed distributor in whose licence Section C has effect.
“distribution system”	means the system consisting (wholly or mainly) of electric lines owned or operated by an authorised distributor and used for the distribution of electricity from grid supply points or generation sets or other entry points (and bulk supply points in Scotland) to the points of delivery to customers or authorised electricity operators or any transmission company within Great Britain in its capacity as operator of a transmission system and includes any remote transmission assets (owned by a transmission licensee within England and Wales) operated by such distributor and any electrical plant, meters and metering equipment owned or operated by such distributor in connection with the distribution of electricity, but shall not include any part of a transmission system.

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“distributor metering and data services”	for the purposes of Section C only, has the meaning given in paragraph 9 of standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services).
“domestic customer”	means a customer supplied or requiring to be supplied with electricity at domestic premises (but excluding such customer in so far as he is supplied or requires to be supplied at premises other than domestic premises).
“domestic premises”	means premises at which a supply is taken wholly or mainly for domestic purposes.
“Electricity Arbitration Association”	for the purposes of standard condition 39 (Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“electricity supplier”	means any person authorised to supply electricity.
“estimated costs”	for the purposes of standard condition 3 (Payments by the Licensee to the Authority) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“existing connection”	means, in relation to any premises, an existing connection to the licensee’s distribution system which does not require modification, or a new or modified connection to such system in respect of which all works have been completed, such that in either case electricity is able to be supplied to the premises in accordance with the terms of the relevant supply agreement.

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“external distribution activities”	for the purposes of standard condition 39 (Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“financial year”	subject to standard condition 42A (Change of Financial Year) (where applicable), means a period of 12 months beginning on 1 April of each year and ending on 31 March of the following calendar year.
“Fuel Security Code”	for the purposes of Section B only, has the meaning given in standard condition 16 (Security Arrangements).
“generation set”	means any plant or apparatus for the production of electricity and shall where appropriate include a generating station comprising more than one generation set.
“Grid Code”	means the Grid Code which each transmission company is required to prepare and have approved by the Authority as from time to time revised with the approval of the Authority.
“grid supply point”	means any point at which electricity is delivered from a transmission system to any distribution system.

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“the handbook”	for the purposes of standard condition 42 (Regulatory Accounts) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“holding company”	means a company within the meaning of sections 736, 736A and 736B of the Companies Act 1985.
“indebtedness”	for the purposes of standard condition 47 (Indebtedness) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“information”	includes any documents, accounts, estimates, returns, records or reports and data in written, verbal or electronic form and information in any form or medium whatsoever (whether or not prepared specifically at the request of the Authority or the Consumer Council) of any description specified by the Authority.
“interconnection”	means:
	the 275 kV and 400 kV circuits between and including the associated switchgear at Harker substation in Cumbria and the associated switchgear at Strathaven sub-station in Lanarkshire;
	the 275 kV transmission circuit between and including the associated switchgear at Cockenzie in East Lothian and the associated switchgear at Stella in Tyne and Wear; and

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the 400 kV transmission circuit between and including the associated switchgear at Torness in East Lothian and the associated switchgear at Stella in Tyne and Wear

all as existing at the date on which the transmission licence comes into force as from time to time maintained, repaired or renewed, together with any alteration, modification or addition (other than maintenance, repair or renewal) which is primarily designed to effect a permanent increase in one or more particular interconnection capacities as they exist immediately prior to such alteration, modification or addition and as from time to time maintained, repaired or renewed; and

the 132 kV transmission circuit between and including (and directly connecting) the associated switchgear at Chapelcross and the associated switchgear at Harker sub-station in Cumbria; and

the 132 kV transmission circuit between and including (and connecting, via Junction V) the associated switchgear at Chapelcross and the associated switchgear at Harker sub-station in Cumbria

all as existing at the date on which the transmission licence comes into force and as from time to time maintained, repaired or renewed.

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“interconnector(s)”	means the electric lines and electrical plant and meters owned or operated by a transmission company solely for the transfer of electricity to or from a transmission system into or out of England and Wales.
“investment”	for the purposes of Section C only, has the meaning given in standard condition 43 (Restriction on Activity and Financial Ring Fencing).
“investment grade issuer credit rating”	for the purposes of Section C only, has the meaning given in standard condition 46 (Credit Rating of Licensee).
“licensed distributor”	means any holder of a distribution licence.
“licensee’s Distribution Code”	means the distribution code required to be prepared by the licensee pursuant to standard condition 9 (Distribution Code) and approved by the Authority as revised from time to time with the approval of the Authority.
“licensee’s distribution system”	means the distribution system owned or operated by the licensee.
“Master Registration Agreement”	means the agreement of that title referred to and comprising such matters as are set out in standard condition 14 (Provision of the Metering Point Administration Service and Compliance with the Master Registration Agreement) and standard condition 37 (The Metering Point Administration Service and the Master Registration Agreement).

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“metering equipment”	includes any electricity meter and any associated equipment which materially affects the operation of that meter.
“Metering Point Administration Service”	means the service to be established, operated and maintained by the licensee in accordance with standard condition 14 (Provision of the Metering Point Administration Service and Compliance with the Master Registration Agreement).
“metering point administration services”	means the services of the Metering Point Administration Service established in accordance with standard condition 14 (Provision of the Metering Point Administration Service and Compliance with the Master Registration Agreement) or, where the context requires, in accordance with standard condition 37 (The Metering Point Administration Service and the Master Registration Agreement).
“Metering Point Administration Service operator”	has the meaning given in standard condition 38 (Establishment of a Data Transfer Service).
“non-domestic customer”	means a customer who is not a domestic customer.
“other Distribution Codes”	means the distribution codes which the holder(s) of a distribution licence (other than the licensee) are required to draw up and have approved by the Authority pursuant to standard condition 9 (Distribution Code) of their distribution licence, as from time to time revised with the approval of the Authority.

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“owned”	in relation to an electricity meter or other property includes leased and cognate expressions shall construed accordingly.
“participating interest”	has the meaning given by section 260 of the Companies Act 1985 as amended by section 22 of the Companies Act 1989.
“permitted purpose”	for the purposes of Section C only, has the meaning given in standard condition 32 (Interpretation of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)).
“Pooling and Settlement Agreement”	means the agreement of that title approved by the Secretary of State as from time to time amended.
“regulatory instructions and guidance”	for the purposes of standard condition 49 (Incentive Scheme and Associated Information) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“related undertaking”	in relation to the licensee means any undertaking in which the licensee has a participating interest.
“relevant asset”	means any asset for the time being forming part of the licensee’s distribution system, any control centre for use in conjunction therewith, and any legal or beneficial interest in land upon which any of the foregoing is situate (which for the purposes of property located in Scotland means any estate, interest,

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	servitude or other heritable or leasehold right in or over land including any leasehold interests or other rights to occupy or use and any contractual or personal rights relating to such property or the acquisition thereof).
“relevant duties”	for the purposes of standard condition 40 (Appointment of a Compliance Officer) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“relevant proportion”	for the purposes of standard condition 3 (Payments by the Licensee to the Authority) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“relevant year”	for the purposes of standard condition 3 (Payments by the Licensee to the Authority) only, has the meaning given in that condition; and for the purposes of standard condition 48 (Last Resort Supply: Payment Claims) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“relinquishment of operational control”	for the purposes of standard condition 29 (Disposal of Relevant Assets) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“remote transmission assets”	means any electric lines, electrical plant or meters in England and Wales owned by a transmission company (“the owner transmission company”) which:
	(a)	are embedded in the licensee’s distribution system or the distribution system of any authorised distributor and are not directly connected by lines or plant owned by the owner transmission company to a sub-station owned by the owner transmission company; and

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	(b)	are by agreement between the owner transmission company and the licensee or such authorised distributor operated under the direction and control of the licensee or such authorised distributor.
“Scottish interconnection”	means such part of the interconnection as is situated in Scotland.
“Secretary of State’s costs”	for the purposes of standard condition 3 (Payments by Licensee to the Authority) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“separate business”	for the purposes of standard condition 39 (Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“the scheme”	for the purposes of standard condition 49 (Incentive Scheme and Associated Information) only, has the meaning given in that condition.
“Settlement Agreement for Scotland”	has the meaning given in standard condition 12 (Settlement Agreement for Scotland).
“settlement purposes”	means for the purposes of settlement as set out in the Balancing and Settlement Code or the Settlement Agreement for Scotland.
“specified information”	for the purposes of standard condition 49 (Incentive Scheme and Associated Information) only, has the meaning given in that condition.

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“standby”	means the periodic or intermittent supply or sale of electricity:
	(a)	to an authorised electricity operator to make good any shortfall in the availability of electricity to that operator for the purposes of its supply of electricity to persons seeking such supply; or
	(b)	to a customer of the licensee to make good any shortfall between the customer’s total supply requirements and that met either by its own generation or by electricity supplied by an electricity supplier other than the licensee.
“statutory accounts”	means the accounts that the licensee prepares under the Companies Act 1985 (as amended by the Companies Act 1989).
“subsidiary”	means a subsidiary within the meanings of sections 736, 736A and 736B of the Companies Act 1985.
“supply licence”	means a supply licence granted or treated as granted under section 6(1)(d) of the Act.
“top-up”	means the supply or sale of electricity on a continuing or regular basis:
	(a)	to an authorised electricity operator to make

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	good any shortfall in the availability of electricity to that operator for the purposes of its supply of electricity to persons seeking such supply; or
	(b)	to a customer of the licensee to make good any shortfall between the customer’s total supply requirements and that met either by its own generation or by electricity supplied by an electricity supplier other than the licensee.
“trading code”	for the purposes of Section B only, has the meaning given in standard condition 12A (Compliance with Trading Code in Scotland).
“transmission company”	means the holder for the time being of a transmission licence.
“transmission licence”	means a transmission licence granted or treated as granted under section 6(1)(b) of the Act.
“transmission system”	means a system consisting (wholly or mainly) of high voltage electric lines owned or operated by a transmission company and used for the transmission of electricity from one generating station to a sub-station or to another generating station, or between sub-stations or to or from any interconnector or Scottish interconnection in question and in relation to Scotland including any interconnector and Scottish interconnection, and includes any electrical plant and meters owned or operated by the transmission company in connection with the transmission of electricity but shall not include any remote transmission assets.

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“ultimate controller”	means:
	(a)	a holding company of the licensee which is not itself a subsidiary of another company; and
	(b)	any person who (whether alone or with a person or persons connected with him) is in a position to control, or to exercise significant influence over, the policy of the licensee or any holding company of the licensee by virtue of:
		(i)	rights under contractual arrangements to which he is a party or of which he is a beneficiary; or
		(ii)	rights of ownership (including rights attached to or deriving from securities or rights under a trust) which are held by him or of which he is a beneficiary;
		but excluding any director or employee of a corporate body in his capacity as such; and
	(c)	for the purposes of sub-paragraph (b), a person is connected with another person if they are party to any arrangement regarding the exercise of any such rights as are described in that paragraph.

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“undertaking”	has the meaning given by section 259 of the Companies Act 1985.
“unmetered supply”	means a supply of electricity to premises which is not, for the purpose of calculating the charges for electricity supplied to the customer at such premises, measured by metering equipment.
“use of system”	means use of the licensee’s distribution system for the distribution of electricity by the licensee for any person.
“use of system charges”	means charges made or levied or to be made or levied by the licensee for the provision of services as part of the distribution business to any person as more fully described in standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency) but shall not include connection charges.

2. Any words or expressions used in the Utilities Act 2000 or Part I of the Act shall, unless the contrary intention appears, have the same meanings when used in the standard conditions.

3. Except where the context otherwise requires, any reference to a numbered standard condition (with or without a letter) or Schedule is a reference to the standard condition (with or without a letter) or Schedule bearing that number in this licence, and any reference to a numbered paragraph (with or without a letter) is a reference to the paragraph bearing that number in the standard condition or Schedule in which the reference occurs, and reference to a Section is a reference to that Section in these standard conditions.

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4. These standard conditions shall have effect as if, in relation to a licence holder who is a natural person, for the words “it”, “its” and “which” there were substituted the words “he”, “him”, “his”, “who” and “whom”, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.

5. Except where the context otherwise requires, a reference in a standard condition to a paragraph is a reference to a paragraph of that standard condition and a reference in a paragraph to a sub-paragraph is a reference to a sub-paragraph of that paragraph.

6. Any reference in these standard conditions to -

(a) a provision thereof;

(b) a provision of the standard conditions of electricity supply licences, or

(c) a provision of the standard conditions of electricity generation licences,

(d) a provision of the standard conditions of electricity transmission licences,

shall, if these standard conditions or the standard conditions in question come to be modified, be construed, so far as the context permits, as a reference to the corresponding provision of these standard conditions or the other standard conditions in question as modified.

7. In construing these standard conditions, the heading or title of any standard condition or paragraph shall be disregarded.

8. Any reference in a standard condition to the purposes of that condition generally is a reference to the purposes of that standard condition as incorporated in this licence and as incorporated in each other licence under section 6(1)(c) of the Act (whenever granted) which incorporates it.

9. Where any obligation of the licence is required to be performed by a specified date or time, or within a specified period, and where the licensee has failed so to perform, such obligation shall continue to be binding and enforceable after the specified date or

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time, or after the expiry of the specified period (but without prejudice to all the rights and remedies available against the licensee by reason of the licensee’s failure to perform by that date or time, or within that period).

10. Anything required by or under these standard conditions to be done in writing may be done by facsimile transmission of the instrument in question or by other electronic means and, in such case –

(a) the original instrument or other confirmation in writing shall be delivered or sent by pre-paid first-class post as soon as is reasonably practicable, and

(b) where the means of transmission had been agreed in advance between the parties concerned, in the absence of and pending such confirmation, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that what was received duly represented the original instrument.

11. The definitions referred to in this condition may include some definitions which are not used or not used exclusively in Sections A and B (which Sections are incorporated in all distribution licences). Where:

(a) any definition is not used in Sections A and B, that definition shall, for the purposes of this licence, be treated:

(i) as part of the standard condition or conditions (and the Section) in which it is used;

(ii) as not having effect in the licence until such time as the standard condition in which the definition is used has effect within the licence in pursuance of standard condition 2 (Application of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations));

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(b) any definition which is used in Sections A and B is also used in one or more other Sections:

(i) that definition shall only be modifiable in accordance with the modification process applicable to each of the standard conditions in which it is used; and

(ii) if any such standard condition is modified so as to omit that definition, then the reference to that definition in this condition shall automatically cease to have effect.

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Condition 2. Application of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)

1. Where the Secretary of State provides, by a scheme made under Schedule 7 to the Utilities Act 2000, for Section C (in whole or in part) to have effect within this licence:

(a) paragraphs 4 to 8 shall cease to be suspended and shall have effect in the licensee’s licence; and

(b) the licensee shall be obliged to comply with the requirements of Section C (in whole or, as the case may be, in part) of this licence,

from the date the said scheme takes effect. Such provision made by the Secretary of State in the said scheme shall be treated, for the purposes of paragraphs 5, 6, and 7 of this condition, as if it were a Distribution Services Direction made by the Authority.

2. Until -

(a) the Secretary of State provides, by a scheme made under Schedule 7 to the Utilities Act 2000, for Section C (in whole or in part) to have effect within this licence; or

(b) the Authority has issued to the licensee a direction pursuant to paragraph 4,

the standard conditions in Section C (in whole or, as the case may be, in part) shall not have effect within this licence; and the licensee shall not be obliged to comply with any of the requirements of Section C (in whole or, as the case may be, in part) of this licence.

3. Except where paragraph 1 applies to the licensee, paragraphs 4 to 8 of this standard condition shall be suspended and shall have no effect in this licence until such time as

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the Authority, with the consent of the licensee, issues to the licensee a notice ending the suspension and providing for those paragraphs to have effect in this licence with effect from the date specified in the notice.

4. The Authority may, with the consent of the licensee, issue a direction (a “Distribution Services Direction”). Where the Authority has issued to the licensee a Distribution Services Direction the standard conditions in Section C (in whole or, as the case may be, in part) shall have effect within this licence from the date specified in the direction; and the licensee shall be obliged to comply with the requirements of Section C (in whole or, as the case may be, in part) to the extent and subject to the terms specified in such direction.

5. A Distribution Services Direction:

(a) may specify that the standard conditions in Section C (in whole or in part) are to have effect in this licence;

(b) shall specify or describe an area (the “distribution services area”) within which the licensee shall be obliged to comply with any of the requirements of Section C (in whole or, as the case may be, in part); and

(c) shall specify whether or not the requirements of Section C (in whole or, as the case may be, in part) apply to convenience customers.

6. The Authority may, with the consent of the licensee:

(a) vary the terms (as set out in the Distribution Services Direction or elsewhere) under which Section C (or parts thereof) has effect in this licence; or

(b) provide for Section C (or parts thereof) to cease to have effect in this licence.

7. The variation or cessation provided for in paragraph 6 shall take effect from the date specified in the variation or cessation notice given to the licensee by the Authority.

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8 With effect from the date of cessation referred to in paragraph 7, paragraphs 4 to 7 of this condition shall be suspended and shall cease to have effect in this licence, but the Authority may at any time thereafter, with the consent of the licensee, give to the licensee a notice ending the suspension and providing for those paragraphs to have effect again in this licence with effect from the date specified in the notice.

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Condition 3. Payments by Licensee to the Authority

1. The licensee shall, at the times stated, pay to the authority such amounts as are determined by or under this condition.

2. In respect of each relevant year at the beginning of which the licensee holds this licence, the licensee shall pay to the Authority the aggregate of:

(a) an amount which is the relevant proportion of the estimated costs of the Authority during the year in question;

(b) an amount which is the relevant proportion of the estimated costs of the Consumer Council during the year in question;

(c) an amount which is the relevant proportion of the estimated costs incurred in the previous relevant year by the Competition Commission in connection with references made to it with respect to the licence or any other electricity distribution licence;

(d) an amount which is the relevant proportion of the Secretary of State’s costs during the year in question;

(e) an amount which is the relevant proportion of the difference (being a positive or negative amount), if any, between:

(aa) any costs estimated by the Authority or, in the case of sub-paragraph 2(d), the Secretary of State in the previous relevant year under sub-paragraphs 2(a), (b), (c), and (d); and

(bb) the actual costs of the Authority, the Consumer Council, the Competition Commission (in connection with that reference) and the Secretary of State for the previous relevant year or, in the case of the Competition Commission, for the relevant year prior to the previous relevant year; and

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(f) in respect of the relevant year ending on 31 March 2002, an amount which is the relevant proportion of the actual unrecovered costs of the Director General of Electricity Supply and the Relevant Consumers’ Committees.

3. The amounts determined in accordance with paragraph 2 shall be paid by the licensee to the Authority in two instalments, with:

(a) the first instalment being due for payment by 30 June in each year; and

(b) the second instalment being due for payment by 31 January in each year

provided that, in each case, if the Authority has not given notice of the amount of the instalment due at least 30 days before the payment date stated above, the licensee shall pay the amount due within 30 days from the actual giving of notice by the Authority to the licensee (whenever notice is given).

4. Where the licensee fails to pay the amount determined in accordance with paragraph 2 within 30 days of the due date set out in paragraph 3, it shall pay simple interest on the amount at the rate which is from time to time equivalent to the base rate of NatWest Bank plc or, if there is no such base rate, such base rate as the Authority may designate for the purposes hereof.

5. In relation to any data or information specified by the Authority in a direction given for the purposes of this condition generally, the licensee shall submit a certificate to the Authority, approved by a resolution of the board of directors of the licensee and signed by a director of the licensee pursuant to that resolution. Such certificate shall be submitted to the Authority each year on the date specified by the Authority. Each certificate shall be in the following form –

“In the opinion of the directors of [the licensee], all data and information provided to the Authority on [date provided to the Authority] for the purposes of enabling the Authority to calculate the licence fee payable by [the licensee] pursuant to standard condition 3 (Payments by the Licensee to the Authority) is accurate.”

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6. In this condition:

“estimated costs”	means costs estimated by the Authority as likely to be:
	(a)	the costs of the Authority and the consumer Council; and
	(b)	the costs incurred by the Competition Commission, such estimate having regard to the views of the Competition Commission.
“relevant proportion”	means the proportion of the costs attributable to the licensee in accordance with principles determined by the Authority for the purposes of this condition generally and notified to the licensee.
“relevant year”	means a year beginning on 1 April of each calendar year and ending on 31 March of the following calendar year.
“Secretary of State’s costs”	means costs estimated by the Secretary of State as likely to be his costs in relation to:
	(a)	the establishment of the Authority and the Consumer Council; and
	(b)	Schedule 7 to the Utilities Act 2000.

7. In sub-paragraph 2(f) of this condition:

“Director General of Electricity Supply”	means the office previously established under section 1 of the Act;
“Relevant Consumers’ Committees”	means the committees previously appointed by the Director General of Electricity Supply under section 2 of that Act

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SECTION B. GENERAL

Condition 4. Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency

1. The licensee shall as soon as practicable prepare statements in a form approved by the Authority setting out the basis upon which charges will be made for the provision of:

(a) use of system; and

(b) connections to the licensee’s distribution system,

in each case in such form and with such detail as shall be necessary to enable any person to make a reasonable estimate of the charges which the person would become liable to pay for the provision of such services, and (without prejudice to the foregoing) including the information set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 respectively.

2. The statement referred to at sub-paragraph 1(a) shall include:

(a) a schedule of charges for the distribution of electricity under use of system;

(b) a schedule of adjustment factors to be made in respect of distribution losses, in the form of additional supplies required to cover those distribution losses;

(c) the methods by which and the principles on which the charges (if any) for availability of distribution capacity on the licensee’s distribution system will be made;

(d) a schedule of charges in respect of accounting and administrative services; and

(e) a schedule of the charges (if any) which may be made for the provision and installation of any electrical plant at entry or exit points, the provision and installation of which are ancillary to the grant of use of system, and for the maintenance of such electrical plant.

3. The statement referred to at sub-paragraph 1(b) shall include:

(a) a schedule listing those items (including the carrying out of works and the provision and installation of electric lines or electrical plant) of significant cost liable to be

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required for the purpose of connection (at entry or exit points) to the licensee’s distribution system for which connection charges may be made or levied and including (where practicable) indicative charges for each such item and (in other cases) an explanation of the methods by which and the principles on which such charges will be calculated;

(b) the methods by which and the principles on which any charges will be made in respect of extension or reinforcement of the licensee’s distribution system rendered (in the licensee’s discretion) necessary or appropriate by virtue of providing connection to or use of system to any person seeking connection;

(c) the methods by which and the principles on which connection charges will be made in circumstances where the electric lines or electrical plant to be installed are (at the licensee’s discretion) of greater size or capacity than that required for use of system by the person seeking connection;

(d) the methods by which and the principles on which any charges (including any capitalised charge) will be made for maintenance, repair and replacement required of electric lines or electrical plant provided and installed for making a connection to the licensee’s distribution system;

(e) (save to the extent that such matters are included in any agreement offered in accordance with standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services) the methods by which and principles on which any charges will be made for the provision of special metering or telemetry or data processing equipment by the licensee for the purposes of enabling any person who is party to the Pooling and Settlement Agreement and/or the Balancing and Settlement Code to comply with its obligations in respect of metering thereunder, or for the performance by the licensee of any service in relation to such metering thereto; and

(f) the methods by which and principles on which any charges will be made for disconnection from the licensee’s distribution system and the removal of electrical plant and electric lines following disconnection.

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4. Connection charges for those items referred to in paragraph 3 shall be set at a level which will enable the licensee to recover:

(a) the appropriate proportion to be determined having regard to the factors set out in paragraph 4 of standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection) of the costs directly or indirectly incurred in carrying out any works, the extension or reinforcement of the licensee’s distribution system or the provision and installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement or (as the case may be) removal following disconnection of any electric lines or electrical plant; and

(b) a reasonable rate of return on the capital represented by such costs.

5. If so requested and subject to paragraphs 6 and 10, the licensee shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within 28 days (or where the Authority so approves such longer period as the licensee may reasonably require having regard to the nature and complexity of the request) after the date referred to in paragraph 12 give or send to any person making such request a statement showing present and future circuit capacity, forecast power flows and loading on the part or parts of the licensee’s distribution system specified in the request and fault levels for each distribution node covered by the request and containing:

(a) such further information as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such person to identify and evaluate the opportunities available when connecting to and making use of the part or parts of the licensee’s distribution system specified in the request; and

(b) if so requested, a commentary prepared by the licensee indicating the licensee’s views as to the suitability of the part or parts of the licensee’s distribution system specified in the request for new connections and the distribution of further quantities of electricity.

6. The licensee shall include in every statement given or sent under paragraph 5 the information required by that paragraph except that the licensee may:

(a) with the prior consent of the Authority omit from any such statement any details as to circuit capacity, power flows, loading or other information, disclosure of which would, in the view of the Authority, seriously and prejudicially affect the commercial interests of the licensee or any third party; and

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(b) omit information the disclosure of which would place the licensee in breach of standard condition 39 (Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business) (if applicable).

7. The licensee:

(a) shall, at least once in every year, review the information set out in the statements prepared in accordance with paragraph 1 in order that the information set out in such statements shall continue to be accurate in all material respects; and

(b) may, with the approval of the Authority, from time to time alter the form of such statements.

8. The licensee shall send a copy of the statements prepared in accordance with paragraph 1 and of any revision of such statements, to the Authority.

9. The licensee shall give or send a copy of the statements prepared in accordance with paragraph 1, or (as the case may be) of the latest revision of such statements, to any person who requests a copy of such statement or statements.

10. The licensee may make a charge for any statement given or sent pursuant to paragraph 9 of an amount which shall not exceed the amount specified in directions issued by the Authority for the purposes of this condition based on the Authority’s estimate of the licensee’s reasonable costs of providing such a statement.

11. The licensee may within 10 days after receipt of the request provide an estimate of its reasonable costs in the preparation of any statement referred to in paragraph 5, and its obligation to provide such statement shall be conditional on the person requesting such statement agreeing to pay the amount estimated or such other amount as the Authority may, upon application of the licensee or the person requesting such statement, direct.

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12. For the purposes of paragraph 5, the date referred to shall be the later of:

(a) the date of receipt of the request referred to in paragraph 5; or

(b) the date on which the licensee receives agreement from the person making the request to pay the amount estimated or such other amount as is determined by the Authority (as the case may be) under paragraph 11.

13. The licensee shall, not less than 5 months prior to the date on which it proposes to amend its use of system charges in respect of any agreement for use of system, send to the Authority a notice setting out the licensee’s proposals in relation to such amendment together with an explanation of the proposed amendment (including a statement of any assumptions on which such proposals are based), and the licensee shall send a copy of such notice to any person who has entered into an agreement for use of system under standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection).

14. Except with the prior consent of the Authority, the licensee shall not amend its use of system charges in respect of any agreement for use of system save to the extent that it has given prior notice of the amendment in accordance with paragraph 13 and such amendment reflects the proposals made in the notice (subject only to revisions consequent upon material changes in the matters which were expressed, in the statement which accompanied the notice, to be assumptions on which the proposals were based).

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Condition 4A. Non-Discrimination in the Provision of Use of System and Connection to System

1. In the carrying out of works for the purpose of connection to the licensee’s distribution system, or in providing for the modification to or retention of an existing connection to its distribution system, the licensee shall not discriminate between any persons or class or classes of persons.

2. In the provision of use of system the licensee shall not discriminate between any persons or class or classes of persons.

3. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 and 2, and subject to the provisions of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System), the licensee shall not make charges for the provision of use of system to any person or class or classes of persons which differ from the charges for such provision to any other person or to any class or classes of persons, except in so far as such differences reasonably reflect differences in the costs associated with such provision.

4. The licensee shall not in setting its charges for connection or use of system restrict, distort or prevent competition in the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity.

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Condition 4B. Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection

1. On application made by any person the licensee shall (subject to paragraph 4) offer to enter into an agreement for use of system:

(a) to accept into the licensee’s distribution system at such entry point or points and in such quantities as may be specified in the application, electricity to be provided by or on behalf of such person; and/or

(b) to distribute such quantities of electricity as are referred to in sub-paragraph (a) (less any distribution losses) at such exit point or points on the licensee’s distribution system and to such person or persons as the applicant for use of system may specify.

2. On application made by any person for a connection, the licensee shall offer terms for making the connection pursuant to section 16 and section 16A of the Act. Such offer of a connection shall comply with the provisions of this condition.

3. Where the licensee:

(i) makes an offer to enter into a connection agreement pursuant to section 22 of the Act; or

(ii) replies to a request for a connection made to it under section 16A of the Act

the licensee shall, in making the offer or replying to the applicant, make detailed provision regarding:

(a) the carrying out of the works (if any) required to connect the licensee’s distribution system to any other system for the transmission or distribution of electricity, and for the obtaining of any consents necessary for such purpose;

(b) the carrying out of the works (if any) in connection with the extension or reinforcement of the licensee’s distribution system rendered (in the licensee’s

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discretion) appropriate or necessary by reason of making the connection or modification to an existing connection and for the obtaining of any consents necessary for such purpose;

(c) (save to the extent that such matters are included in any agreement offered in accordance with standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services)) the installation of appropriate meters (if any) required to enable the licensee to measure electricity being accepted into the licensee’s distribution system at the specified entry point or points or leaving such system at the specified exit point or points;

(d) the installation of such switchgear or other apparatus (if any) as may be required for the interruption of supply where the person seeking connection or modification of an existing connection does not require the provision of top-up or standby; and

(e) (save to the extent that such matters are included in any agreement offered in accordance with standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services)) the installation of special metering, telemetry or data processing equipment (if any) for the purpose of enabling any person who is party to the Pooling and Settlement Agreement and/or the Balancing and Settlement Code whilst such agreement is still in existence to comply with its obligations in respect to metering or the performance by the licensee of any service in relation to such metering thereunder.

4. In making an offer pursuant to this condition to enter into any connection agreement or in replying to a request for connection under section 16A of the Act, the licensee shall set out:

(a) the date by which in the case of an agreement under paragraph 2, any works required to permit access to the licensee’s distribution system (including for this purpose any works to reinforce or extend the licensee’s distribution system) shall be completed, time being of the essence unless, in the case of connection agreements only, otherwise agreed between the parties;

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(b) the charges to be paid in respect of the services required, such charges (unless manifestly inappropriate):

(i) to be presented in such a way as to be referable to the statements prepared in accordance with paragraph 1 of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency) or any revision thereof; and

(ii) to be set in conformity with the requirements of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency); and

(iii) in the case of a connection agreement under paragraph 2, additionally to be set in conformity with the requirements of paragraph 5.

(c) such other detailed terms in respect of each of the services required as are or may be appropriate for the purpose of the agreement.

5. For the purpose of determining an appropriate proportion of the costs directly or indirectly incurred in carrying out works under an agreement for providing a connection or modification to or retention of an existing connection, the licensee shall have regard to:

(a) the benefit (if any) to be obtained or likely in the future to be obtained by the licensee or any other person as a result of the carrying out of such works whether by reason of the reinforcement or extension of the licensee’s distribution system or the provision of additional entry or exit points on such system or otherwise;

(b) ability or likely future ability of the licensee to recoup a proportion of such costs from third parties; and

(c) the principles that:

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(i) no charge will normally be made for reinforcement of the existing distribution system if the new or increased load requirement does not exceed 25 percent of the existing effective capacity at the relevant points on the system; and

(ii) charges will not generally take into account system reinforcement carried out at more than one voltage level above the voltage of connection.

6. The licensee shall offer terms for agreements in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 4 as soon as practicable and (save where the Authority consents to a longer period) in any event not more than the period specified in paragraph 7 after receipt by the licensee (or its agent) from any person of an application containing all such information as the licensee may reasonably require for the purpose of formulating the terms of the offer.

7. For the purposes of paragraph 6, the period specified shall be:

(a) in the case of persons seeking the provision of use of system only, 28 days;

(b) in the case of persons seeking connection or a modification to an existing connection, 3 months; and

(c) in the case of persons seeking use of system in conjunction with connection or a modification to an existing connection, 3 months.

8. The licensee shall not be obliged pursuant to this condition to offer to enter or to enter into any agreement:

(a) under paragraphs 2 and 4 if to do so would be likely to involve the licensee being:

(i) in breach of its duties under section 9 of the Act;

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(ii) in breach of any regulations made under section 29 of the Act or of any other enactment relating to safety or standards applicable in respect to the distribution business;

(iii) in breach of the Grid Codes or the licensee’s Distribution Code; or

(iv) in breach of the conditions; or

(b) under paragraph 2 or 4, if the person making the application does not undertake to be bound, in so far as applicable, by the terms of the licensee’s Distribution Code or the applicable Grid Code from time to time in force; or

(c) under paragraphs 2 and 4, if to do so would be likely to involve the licensee doing something which, without the consent of another person, would require the exercise of a power conferred by any provision of Schedules 3 or 4 to the Act; where the licence does not provide for that provision to have effect in relation to it; and any necessary consent has not, at the time the request is made, been given.

9. The licensee shall within 28 days following receipt of a request from any person, give or send to such person such information in the possession of the licensee as may be reasonably required by such person for the purpose of completing an application under the Application Regulations or such provisions to like effect contained in any further regulations then in force made pursuant to sections 6(3), 60 and 64(1) of the Act.

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Condition 4C. Functions of the Authority

1. If, after a period which appears to the Authority to be reasonable for the purpose, the licensee has failed to enter into an agreement with any person entitled or claiming to be entitled thereto pursuant to a request under standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection) for use of system, or an agreement for connection, the Authority may, on the application of such person or the licensee, settle any terms of the agreement in dispute between the licensee and that person in such manner as appears to the Authority to be reasonable having (in so far as relevant) regard in particular to the following considerations:

(a) that such a person should pay to the licensee, in the case of provision of use of system, the use of system charges determined in accordance with standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency); and

in the case of provision of a connection or modification to an existing connection to the system, the whole or an appropriate proportion (as determined in accordance with paragraph 4 of standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection)) of the costs referred to in paragraph 4 of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency), together with a reasonable rate of return on the capital represented by such costs;

(b) that the performance by the licensee of its obligations under the agreement should not cause it to be in breach of those provisions referred to at sub-paragraph 8(a) of standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection);

(c) that any methods by which the licensee’s distribution system is connected to any other system for the transmission or distribution of electricity accord (in so far as applicable to the licensee) with the applicable Distribution Codes and Grid Codes; and

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(d) that the terms and conditions of the agreement so settled by the Authority and of any other agreements entered into by the licensee pursuant to a request under standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection) should be in as similar a form as is practicable.

2. In so far as any person entitled or claiming to be entitled to an offer under standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection) wishes to proceed on the basis of an agreement as settled by the Authority pursuant to paragraph 1, the licensee shall forthwith enter into and implement such agreement in accordance with its terms.

3. If either party to such agreement proposes to vary the contractual terms of any agreement for use of system, for the provision of a connection or for the modification to an existing connection to the licensee’s distribution system, entered into pursuant to standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection) or under this condition in any manner provided for under such agreement, the Authority may, at the request of that party, settle any dispute relating to such variation in such manner as appears to the Authority to be reasonable.

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Condition 5. Distribution System Planning Standard and Quality of Service

1. The licensee shall plan and develop the licensee’s distribution system in accordance with a standard not less than that set out in Engineering Recommendation P.2/5 (October 1978 revision) of the Electricity Council Chief Engineers’ Conference in so far as applicable to it or such other standard of planning as the licensee may, following consultation (where appropriate) with the transmission company and any other authorised electricity operator liable to be materially affected thereby and with the approval of the Authority, adopt from time to time.

2. The licensee shall within 3 months after this condition comes into force draw up and submit to the Authority for its approval a statement setting out criteria by which the quality of performance of the licensee in maintaining the licensee’s distribution system’s security and availability and quality of service may be measured.

3. The licensee shall within 2 months after the end of each financial year submit to the Authority a report providing details of the performance of the licensee during the previous financial year against the criteria referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

4. The Authority may (following consultation with the licensee and, where appropriate, with the transmission company and any other authorised electricity operator liable to be materially affected thereby) issue directions relieving the licensee of its obligation under paragraph 1 in respect of such parts of the licensee’s distribution system and to such extent as may be specified in the directions.

5. Paragraph 2 shall not apply to the licensee in respect of any period during which standard condition 49 has effect.

6. Paragraph 3 shall not apply in respect of a previous financial year during the whole or part of which standard condition 49 had effect.

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Condition 6. Safety and Security of Supplies Enquiry Service

1. The licensee shall establish, or procure the establishment of, and subsequently operate and maintain, or procure the subsequent operation and maintenance of, an enquiry service for use by any person for the purposes of receiving reports and offering information, guidance or advice about any matter or incident which:

(a) affects or is likely to affect the maintenance of the security, availability and quality of service of the licensee’s distribution system; or

(b) arises from or in connection with the operation of, or otherwise relates to, the licensee’s distribution system and which causes danger or requires urgent attention or is likely to cause danger or require urgent attention.

2. The service established, operated and maintained in accordance with paragraph 1 shall:

(a) be provided without charge by the licensee to the user at the point of use;

(b) ensure that all reports and enquiries are processed in a prompt and efficient manner whether made by telephone, in writing or in person; and

(c) be available to receive and process telephone reports and enquiries at all times on every day of each year.

3. In the establishment and operation and maintenance of the enquiry service in accordance with paragraph 1 the licensee shall not discriminate between any persons or class or classes of persons.

4. In the establishment, operation and maintenance of the enquiry service in accordance with paragraph 1 the licensee shall not restrict, distort or prevent competition in the supply of electricity.

5. The licensee shall have in force at all times a statement approved by the Authority setting out details of the service to be provided in accordance with paragraph 1, and the licensee shall give or send a copy of such statement to any person requesting it.

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6. The licensee shall give to the Authority notice of any amendments it proposes to make to the statement prepared under paragraph 5, and shall not make such amendments until either:

(a) a period of one month from the date of the notice has expired; or

(b) prior to the expiry of such period, the licensee has obtained the written approval of the Authority to such amendments.

7. The licensee shall take steps to inform each authorised electricity operator which uses the service of any change to the address or telephone number of such service established, operated and maintained in accordance with paragraph 1, as soon as is practicable but in any event prior to such change becoming effective.

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Condition 7. Provision of Information about Theft or Abstraction of Electricity, Damage and Meter Interference

1. Where a person other than the licensee is the owner of any electrical plant, electric lines or meter the licensee shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, inform that person of any incident where the licensee has reason to believe:

(a) that there has been damage to such electrical plant, electric line or metering equipment; or

(b) that there has been interference with the metering equipment to alter its register or prevent it from duly registering the quantity of electricity supplied;

provided that the licensee shall not be obliged to inform the owner of any electrical plant, electrical line or meter of any such incident where it has reason to believe that the damage or interference referred to above was caused by such owner.

2. Where the licensee, in the course of providing services to any person supplying electricity to premises directly connected to the licensee’s distribution system, has reason to believe that:

(a) there has been damage to any electrical plant, electric line or metering equipment through which such premises are supplied with electricity; or

(b) there has been interference with the metering equipment through which such premises are supplied to alter its register or prevent it from duly registering the quantity of electricity supplied,

the licensee shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, inform that person (the person supplying electricity to the premises in question) of the incident in question.

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Condition 8. Provisions Relating to the Connection of Metering Equipment

1. On application made by any person the licensee shall, subject to paragraph 5, offer to enter into an agreement authorising that person to connect metering equipment to the licensee’s distribution system.

2. In making an offer to enter into an agreement specified in paragraph 1, the licensee shall set out:

(a) the date from which the applicant is authorised to undertake connections;

(b) the procedures to be adopted by the applicant when making connections, with particular regard to those relating to safety; and

(c) such other detailed terms as are or may be appropriate for the purposes of the agreement.

3. The licensee shall offer terms for an agreement in accordance with paragraph 1 as soon as practicable and (save where the Authority consents to a longer period) in any event not more than 28 days after receipt by the licensee from any person of an application containing all such information as the licensee may reasonably require for the purpose of formulating the terms of the offer.

4. In the offering of the terms in accordance with paragraph 1, the licensee shall not show undue preference to or exercise undue discrimination against any person or class or classes of persons and shall not offer terms or operate in such a way as to restrict, distort or prevent competition.

5. The licensee shall not be obliged pursuant to this condition to offer to enter or to enter into any agreement where to do so would be likely to cause the licensee to be in breach of those provisions referred to at paragraph 7(a) of standard condition 4B (Requirement to Offer Terms for Use of System and Connection).

6. If, after a period which appears to the Authority to be reasonable for the purpose, the licensee has failed to enter into an agreement with any person entitled or claiming to be entitled thereto pursuant to a request under this condition, the Authority may, on the

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application of such person or the licensee, settle any terms of the agreement in dispute between the licensee and that person in such manner as appears to the Authority to be reasonable.

7. If the licensee or other party to such agreement proposes to vary the terms of any agreement entered into pursuant to this condition in any manner provided for under such agreement, the Authority may, at the request of the licensee or other party to such agreement, settle any dispute relating to such variation in such manner as appears to the Authority to be reasonable.

8. In so far as any person entitled or claiming to be entitled to an offer under this condition wishes to proceed on the basis of an agreement or a variation to it as settled by the Authority pursuant to paragraphs 6 and 7, the licensee shall forthwith enter into and implement such agreement or variation in accordance with its terms.

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Condition 9. Distribution Code

1. The licensee shall in consultation with authorised electricity operators liable to be materially affected thereby prepare and at all times have in force and shall implement and (subject to paragraph 10 of this condition) comply with a Distribution Code:

(a) covering all material technical aspects relating to connections to and the operation and use of the licensee’s distribution system or (in so far as relevant to the operation and use of the licensee’s distribution system) the operation of electric lines and electrical plant connected to the licensee’s distribution system and (without prejudice to the foregoing) making express provision as to the matters referred to in paragraph 5 below; and

(b) which is designed so as:

(i) to permit the development, maintenance and operation of an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system for the distribution of electricity; and

(ii) to facilitate competition in the generation and supply of electricity.

2. The Distribution Code in force at the date this condition comes into force shall be sent to the Authority for its approval. Thereafter the licensee shall (in consultation with authorised electricity operators liable to be materially affected thereby) periodically review (including upon the request of the Authority) the Distribution Code and its implementation. Following any such review, the licensee shall send to the Authority:

(a) a report on the outcome of such review; and

(b) any proposed revisions to the Distribution Code from time to time as the licensee (having regard to the outcome of such review) reasonably thinks fit for the achievement of the objectives referred to in sub-paragraph 1(b); and

(c) any written representations or objections from authorised electricity operators (including any proposals by such operators for revisions to the Distribution Code not accepted by the licensee in the course of the review) arising during the consultation process and subsequently maintained.

3. Revisions to the Distribution Code proposed by the licensee and sent to the Authority pursuant to paragraph 2 must receive the prior approval of the Authority before being implemented.

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4. Having regard to any written representations or objections referred to in sub-paragraph 2(c), and following such further consultation (if any) as the Authority may consider appropriate, the Authority may issue directions requiring the licensee to revise the Distribution Code in such manner as may be specified in the directions, and the licensee shall forthwith comply with any such directions.

5. The Distribution Code shall include:

(a) a distribution planning and connection code containing:

(i) connection conditions specifying the technical, design and operational criteria to be complied with by any person connected or seeking connection to the licensee’s distribution system; and

(ii) planning conditions specifying the technical and design criteria and procedures to be applied by the licensee in the planning and development of the licensee’s distribution system and to be taken into account by persons connected or seeking connection with the licensee’s distribution system in the planning and development of their own plant and systems; and

(b) a distribution operating code specifying the conditions under which the licensee shall operate the licensee’s distribution system and under which persons shall operate their plant and/or distribution systems in relation to the licensee’s distribution system, in so far as necessary to protect the security and quality of supply and safe operation of the licensee’s distribution system under both normal and abnormal operating conditions.

6. The licensee shall give or send a copy of the Distribution Code (as from time to time revised) to the Authority.

7. The licensee shall (subject to paragraph 8) give or send a copy of the Distribution Code (as from time to time revised) to any person requesting the same.

8. The licensee may make a charge for any copy of the Distribution Code (as from time to time revised) given or sent pursuant to paragraph 7 of an amount which will not exceed any amount specified for the time being for the purposes of this condition in directions issued by the Authority.

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9. In preparing, implementing and complying with the Distribution Code (including in respect of the scheduling of maintenance of the licensee’s distribution system), the licensee shall not unduly discriminate between or unduly prefer any person or class or classes of persons.

10. The Authority may (following consultation with the licensee) issue directions relieving the licensee of its obligations under the Distribution Code in respect of such parts of the licensee’s distribution system and to such extent as may be specified in the directions.

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Condition 9A. Compliance with other Distribution Codes

1. The licensee shall comply with the provisions of the other Distribution Codes insofar as applicable to the licensee or the licensee’s distribution business.

2. The Authority may, following consultation with the licensed distributor(s) responsible for any other Distribution Code(s) and any authorised electricity operators directly affected thereby, issue directions relieving the licensee of its obligation in paragraph 1 in respect of such parts of the other Distribution Code(s) and to such extent and subject to such conditions as may be specified in those directions.

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Condition 10. Balancing and Settlement Code and NETA Implementation

1. Insofar as the licensee shall distribute or offer to distribute electricity within any area of England and Wales, the licensee shall be a party to the BSC Framework Agreement and shall comply with the BSC.

2. The licensee shall comply with the programme implementation scheme established in accordance with paragraph 3 as modified from time to time in accordance with paragraph 5.

3. The programme implementation scheme is a scheme designated by the Secretary of State setting out the steps, including without limitation steps as to the matters referred to in paragraph 4, to be taken (or procured) by the licensee (and/or by authorised electricity operators) which are, in the Secretary of State’s opinion, appropriate in order to give full and timely effect to:

(a) any modifications made to this licence and to the licences of authorised electricity operators by the Secretary of State pursuant to the power vested in him under section 15A of the Act;

(b) any conditions imposed by any exemption from the requirement to hold any such licence; and

(c) the matters envisaged by such modifications and conditions.

4. The programme implementation scheme may include provisions, inter alia,

(a) to secure or facilitate the amendment of any of the core industry documents;

(b) to secure that any systems, persons or other resources employed in the implementation of the Pooling and Settlement Agreement may be employed in the implementation of the BSC;

(c) for the giving of the indemnities against liabilities to which parties to the Pooling and Settlement Agreement may be exposed;

(d) for securing the co-ordinated and effective commencement of implementation of and operations under the BSC, including the testing, trialling and start-up of the

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systems, processes and procedures employed in such implementation and employed by authorised electricity operators and others in connection with such operations;

(e) for co-ordinating the administration and implementation of the BSC and the administration of the Pooling and Settlement Agreement;

(f) for the licensee to refer to the Authority for determination, whether of its own motion or as provided in the programme implementation scheme, disputes, as to matters covered by the scheme, between persons who are required (by conditions of their licences or exemptions) or who have agreed to comply with the scheme or any part of it; and

(g) for the Authority, in the circumstances set out in the scheme, to require that consideration be given to the making of a proposal to modify the BSC and, if so, to require the making of such proposal in the manner set out in the scheme, such power to be exercisable at any time within the period of 12 months after the start of the first period for trading under the BSC as determined by the Secretary of State.

5.     (a) The Secretary of State may at any time direct, in accordance with the provisions of the programme implementation scheme, that the programme implementation scheme be modified in the manner set out in such direction, in order to give (or continue to give) full and timely effect to the matters described in paragraph 3.

(b) The Secretary of State shall serve a copy of any such direction on the licensee, and thereupon the licensee shall comply with the scheme as modified by the direction.

6. If there is any conflict between the requirements contained in the programme implementation scheme pursuant to paragraph 4(a) and/or imposed on the licensee by paragraphs 2 and 5 of this condition, and those imposed on the licensee by any other condition, the provisions of paragraph(s) 4(a), 2 and/or 5 (as appropriate) shall prevail.

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7. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the licensee shall use all reasonable endeavours to do such things as may be requisite and necessary in order to give full and timely effect to the modifications made to this licence as determined by the Secretary of State pursuant to the power vested in him under section 15A of the Act (and to give full and timely effect to the matters envisaged by such modifications).

8. In this condition:

“BSC”	means the balancing and settlement code required to be in place, pursuant to the transmission licence granted to the transmission company in England and Wales, as from time to time modified.
“BSC Framework Agreement”	means the agreement of that title, in the form approved by the Secretary of State, by which the BSC is made contractually binding between the parties to that agreement, as from time to time amended, with the consent of the Secretary of State.
“core industry documents”	mean those documents which:
.	(a)	in the Secretary of State’s opinion are central industry documents associated with the activities of the licensee and authorised electricity operators, the subject matter of which relates to or is connected with the BSC or the balancing and settlement arrangements, and
	(b)	have been so designated by the Secretary of State.

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Condition 11. Change Co-ordination for NETA

1. Insofar as the licensee shall distribute or offer to distribute electricity within any area of England and Wales, the licensee shall take all reasonable measures to secure and implement (consistently with the procedures applicable under or in relation to the core industry documents to which it is party (or in relation to which it holds rights in respect of amendment) as modified or replaced from time to time), and shall not take any steps to prevent or unduly delay, changes to those documents, such changes being changes which are appropriate in order to give full and timely effect to and/or in consequence of any modification which has been made to the BSC.

2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, core industry documents has the meaning given in paragraph 8 of standard condition 10 (Balancing and Settlement Code and NETA Implementation).

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Condition 12. Settlement Agreement for Scotland

1. In so far as the licensee shall distribute or offer to distribute electricity within any area of Scotland or to the extent that the Settlement Agreement for Scotland may apply in respect of the activities of the distribution business, the licensee shall comply with the relevant provisions of the Settlement Agreement for Scotland.

2. In this condition:

“Settlement Agreement for Scotland” means the agreement of that title, as nominated by the Authority for the purposes of this condition, to be prepared in accordance with and comprise such matters as are set out in special condition I (The Settlement Agreement for Scotland) of each of the electricity distribution licences of SP Distribution Limited, and Scottish Hydro-Electric Power Distribution Limited (and any other name by which any of these companies come to be known), as from time to time revised with the approval of the Authority.

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Condition 12A. Compliance with the Trading Code in Scotland

1.	(a)	Insofar as the licensee shall distribute or offer to distribute electricity within any area of Scotland, the licensee shall comply with the provisions of the Trading Code during any period that the licensee is a member of the trading system established by the Trading Code, including any requirements thereunder for the Authority’s approval or consent, for compliance with directions issued by the Authority or relating to determinations made by the Authority.
	(b)	The Authority may (following consultation with such other members of such trading system as the Authority shall consider appropriate) issue directions relieving the licensee of its obligation under sub-paragraph (a) in respect of such parts of the Trading Code and to such extent as may be specified in those directions.

2. In this condition:

“Trading Code” means the trading code required to be adopted pursuant to standard condition D2 (Trading Code for Scotland) of the standard conditions of transmission licences and approved by the Authority as from time to time revised with the approval of the Authority.

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Condition 13. Change Co-ordination for the Utilities Act 2000

1. The licensee shall take all reasonable measures to secure and implement, and shall not take any steps to prevent or unduly delay, such changes to the industry framework documents as are necessary or expedient to give full and timely effect to the provisions of the Utilities Act 2000.

2. In complying with paragraph 1, the licensee shall act in the case of each industry framework document consistently with the change procedures currently applicable to that document, except where to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the Utilities Act 2000, in which event that provision shall take precedence.

3. For the purposes of this condition, “industry framework document” means, subject to paragraph 4, any of the following documents to which the licensee is a party, or in relation to which it holds rights in respect of amendment or termination, together with any documents which are supplemental or ancillary thereto:

(a) the Pooling and Settlement Agreement;

(b) the Balancing and Settlement Code;

(c) Master Connection and Use of System Agreement or the Connection and Use of System Code;

(d) the Settlement Agreement for Scotland;

(e) the Master Registration Agreement;

(f) the Data Transfer services Agreement;

(g) the Radio Teleswitch Agreement;

(h) any Grid Code or Scottish Grid Code;

(i) any Distribution Code;

(j) the Trading Code;

(k) the Fuel Security Code;

(l) any agreement for use of an interconnector or Scottish interconnection; and

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(m) any agreement for the provision of distribution use of system, meter provision services, meter maintenance services, data retrieval services, data processing services, data aggregation services, or prepayment meter services.

4. Where the Authority considers that the list of industry framework documents set out in paragraph 3 should be modified for the purposes of this condition generally, the licensee shall discuss any proposed modification (including addition) to the list in good faith and use all reasonable endeavours to agree such modification with the Authority.

5. This condition shall cease to have effect on 30 June 2002 or such earlier date as the Authority may specify in a direction given for the purposes of this condition generally.

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Condition 14. Provision of the Metering Point Administration Service and Compliance with the Master Registration Agreement

1. The licensee shall be a party to and shall comply with the provisions of the Master Registration Agreement.

2. The licensee shall establish, or procure the establishment of, and subsequently operate and maintain, or procure the subsequent operation and maintenance of, a service to be known as the “Metering Point Administration Service.”

3. The Metering Point Administration Service shall fulfil the following functions:

(a) the maintenance of such a register of technical and other data as is necessary to facilitate supply by any electricity supplier to all premises connected to the licensee’s distribution system and to meet the reasonable requirements of electricity suppliers in respect of such premises for information for settlement purposes, including (where so required):

(i) the identity of the electricity supplier responsible under the Balancing and Settlement Code (where the premises are within England and Wales) and/or the Settlement Agreement for Scotland (where the premises are within Scotland) for the metering point at such premises;

(ii) the type of metering equipment installed at each such premises; and

(iii) a unique and accurate address of each such premises so far as is reasonably practicable having regard to the nature and source of the information provided to the licensee;

(b) the amendment of the register maintained in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) to reflect changes of electricity supplier in respect of any premises;

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(c) the provision, in a timely and efficient manner, of such data contained in the register as is reasonably required and requested to:

(i) any electricity supplier or agent thereof;

(ii) any person identified in the Balancing and Settlement Code (where the premises are within England and Wales) and/or the Settlement Agreement for Scotland (where the premises are within Scotland) as an appropriate person for the receipt of data for settlement purposes; and

(iii) any person identified in the Master Registration Agreement as entitled to such data for the purpose of facilitating changes of electricity supplier in respect of any premises; and

(d) the maintenance of an enquiry service for the provision to any customer or an electricity supplier, on request and free of charge to that customer, of such data contained in the register as is relevant to the supply of electricity to premises which are (or are to be) owned or occupied by the customer, and the taking of such steps as will in the opinion of the licensee secure adequate publicity for the operation of the enquiry service.

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Condition 14A. Basis of Charges for Metering Point Administration Services:

Requirements for Transparency

1. The licensee shall as soon as practicable prepare a statement in a form approved by the Authority setting out the basis upon which charges will be made for the provision of metering point administration services, in such form and with such detail as shall be necessary to enable an electricity supplier to make a reasonable estimate of the charges to which the electricity supplier would become liable to pay for the provision of such services and of the other terms, likely to have a material impact on the conduct of the electricity supplier’s business, upon which the service would be provided and (without prejudice to the foregoing) including the information set out in paragraph 2.

2. The statement referred to in paragraph 1 shall include a schedule of charges for metering point administration services, together with an explanation of the methods by which and the principles on which such charges will be calculated.

3. The Authority may, upon the written request of the licensee, issue a direction relieving the licensee of its obligations under paragraph 1 to such extent and subject to such terms and conditions as the Authority may specify in that direction.

4. The licensee shall not in setting its charges for, or in setting the other terms that will apply to the provision of metering point administration services, restrict, distort or prevent competition in the generation, distribution or supply of electricity.

5. The licensee:

(a) shall, at least once in every year, review the information set out in the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph 1 in order that the information set out in such a statement shall continue to be accurate in all material respects; and

(b) may, with the approval of the Authority, from time to time alter the form of such a statement.

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6. The licensee shall send a copy of the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph 1, and of each revision of such statement, to the Authority.

7. The licensee shall give or send a copy of the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph 1, or (as the case may be) of the latest revision of such statement, to any person who requests a copy of such statement.

8. The licensee may make a charge for any statement given or sent pursuant to paragraph 7 of an amount which shall not exceed the amount specified in directions issued by the Authority for the purposes of this condition based on the Authority’s estimate of the licensee’s reasonable costs of providing such a statement.

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Condition 14B. Non-Discrimination in the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services

1. In the provision of metering point administration services the licensee shall not discriminate between any electricity suppliers.

2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, and subject to the provisions of standard condition 14A (Basis of Charges for Metering Point Administration Services: Requirements for Transparency), the licensee shall not make charges for the provision of metering point administration services to any electricity supplier which differ from the charges for such provision to any other electricity supplier except in so far as such differences reasonably reflect differences in the costs associated with such provision.

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Condition 14C. Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services

1. This condition sets out the obligations relating to the metering point administration services pursuant to and in accordance with the Master Registration Agreement.

2. On application made by any electricity supplier for any premises connected to the licensee’s distribution system, the licensee shall (subject to paragraph 5) offer to enter into an agreement for the provision of metering point administration services.

3. In making an offer pursuant to this condition to enter into an agreement, the licensee shall set out:

(a) the date by which the metering point administration services required shall be provided (time being of the essence, unless otherwise agreed between parties);

(b) the charges to be paid in respect of the metering point administration services required, such charges (unless manifestly inappropriate):

(i) to be presented in such a way as to be referable to the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph 1 of standard condition 14A (Basis of Charges for Metering Point Administration Services: Requirements for Transparency) or any revision thereof;

(ii) to be in conformity with the requirements of standard condition 14A (Basis of Charges for Metering Point Administration Services: Requirements for Transparency).

(c) such other detailed terms in respect of each of the metering point administration services required as are or may be appropriate for the purpose of the agreement.

4. The licensee shall offer terms for an agreement in accordance with paragraph 2 as soon as practicable and (save where the Authority consents to a longer period) in any event not more than 28 days after receipt by the licensee (or its agent) from an electricity supplier of an application containing all such information as the licensee may reasonably require for the purpose of formulating the terms of the offer.

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5. The licensee shall not be obliged pursuant to this condition to offer to enter or to enter into any agreement if to do so would be likely to involve the licensee being:

(a) in breach of its duties under section 9 of the Act;

(b) in breach of any regulations made under section 29 of the Act or of any other enactment relating to safety or standards applicable in respect of the distribution business;

(c) in breach of any Grid Code or Distribution Code; or

(d) in breach of the conditions.

6. The licensee shall undertake metering point administration services in the most efficient and economic manner practicable having regard to the alternatives available and the other requirements of the licence and of the Act in so far as they relate to the provision of such services.

7. In the provision of metering point administration services the licensee shall not restrict, distort or prevent competition in the supply of electricity.

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Condition 14D. Functions of the Authority

1. If, after a period which appears to the Authority to be reasonable for the purpose, the licensee has failed to enter into an agreement with an electricity supplier entitled or claiming to be entitled there to pursuant to a request under standard condition 14C (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services), the Authority may, on the application of such an electricity supplier or the licensee, settle any terms of the agreement in dispute between the licensee and the electricity supplier in such manner as appears to the Authority to be reasonable having (in so far as relevant) regard in particular to the following considerations:

(a) that the performance by the licensee of its obligations under the agreement should not cause it to be in breach of those provisions referred to at paragraph 5 in standard condition 14C (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services); and

(b) that the terms and conditions of the agreement so settled by the Authority and of any other agreements entered into by the licensee pursuant to a request under standard condition 14C (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services) should be in as similar a form as is practicable.

2. In so far as an electricity supplier entitled or claiming to be entitled to an offer under standard condition 14C (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services) wishes to proceed on the basis of the agreement as settled by the Authority pursuant to paragraph 1, the licensee shall forthwith enter into and implement such agreement in accordance with its terms.

3. If either party to such agreement proposes to vary the contractual terms of any agreement for the provision of metering point administration services entered into pursuant to standard condition 14C (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services) in any manner provided for under such agreement, the Authority may, at the request of that party, settle any dispute relating to such variation in such manner as appears to the Authority to be reasonable.

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4. The Authority may (following consultation with the licensee) issue directions relieving the licensee of its obligations under standard condition 14C (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Metering Point Administration Services) relating to metering point administration services in respect of such parts of that condition and to such extent as may be specified in the directions.

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Condition 15. Compliance with the Grid Codes

1. The licensee shall comply with the provisions of every Grid Code in so far as applicable to it.

2. The Authority may (following consultation with the transmission company responsible for the relevant Grid Code) issue directions relieving the licensee of its obligation under paragraph 1 in respect of such parts of such Grid Code and to such extent and subject to such conditions as may be specified in those directions.

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Condition 16. Security Arrangements

1. Insofar as the licensee shall distribute or offer to distribute electricity within any area of England and Wales, the licensee shall comply with the provisions of the Fuel Security Code and such provisions shall have effect as if they were set out in this licence.

2. Insofar as the licensee shall distribute or offer to distribute electricity within any area of Scotland:

(a) if so directed in directions issued by the Authority for the purposes of this condition, the licensee shall, not later than such date as may be specified in such directions, enter into an agreement designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this condition relating to compliance with directions issued by the Secretary of State under section 34 and/or section 35 of the Act; and

(b) the licensee shall comply with and perform its obligations under any agreement which it enters into pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above.

3. In this condition:

“Fuel Security Code” means the document of that title designated as such by the Secretary of State as from time to time amended.

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Condition 17. Provision of Services for Persons who are of Pensionable Age or Disabled or Chronically Sick

1. The licensee shall, no later than 1 November 2001, prepare and submit to the Authority for its approval a code of practice detailing the special services the licensee will make available for domestic customers who are of pensionable age or disabled or chronically sick.

2. The code of practice shall include arrangements whereby the licensee will:

(a) maintain a register of customers who have special communication needs or depend on electricity for medical reasons by virtue of being of pensionable age or disabled or chronically sick, and who require advance notice of planned interruptions to the supply of electricity, comprising the relevant details of each customer who requests or whose supplier requests his inclusion on it;

(b) give to all customers so registered, either via the relevant supplier or, where appropriate, directly, in respect of interruptions to the supply of electricity, such information and advice as may be appropriate and is of such nature as shall be set out in the code of practice, provided that where the licensee is providing the supplier with any such information, the licensee shall provide such information as soon as is practicable; and

(c) in the case where the request for the inclusion in the register is made directly to the licensee, provide the relevant supplier with the relevant details in such form and at such intervals as is relevant to the supplier’s licence obligations.

3. This condition is subject to the provisions of standard condition 22 (Preparation, Review of and Compliance with Customer Service Codes).

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Condition 18. Provision of Services for Persons who are Blind or Deaf

1. The licensee shall, no later than 1 November 2001, prepare and submit to the Authority for its approval a code of practice detailing the special services the licensee will make available for domestic customers who are disabled by virtue of being blind or partially sighted, or deaf or hearing impaired.

2. The code of practice shall include arrangements by which the licensee will, on request, in each case free of charge:

(a) make available to blind and partially sighted domestic customers a facility for enquiring or complaining about any service provided by the licensee, by telephone or other appropriate means; and

(b) make available to deaf and hearing impaired domestic customers, being in possession of appropriate equipment, facilities to assist them in enquiring or complaining about any service provided by the licensee.

3. This condition is subject to the provisions of standard condition 22 (Preparation, Review of and Compliance with Customer Service Codes).

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Condition 19. Code of Practice on Procedures with Respect to Site Access

1. The licensee shall, no later than 1 November 2001, prepare and submit to the Authority for its approval a code of practice setting out the principles and procedures the licensee will follow in respect of any person acting on its behalf who requires access to customers’ premises.

2. The code of practice shall include procedures calculated to ensure that persons visiting customers’ premises on behalf of the licensee:

(a) possess the skills necessary to perform the required duties;

(b) are readily identifiable to members of the public;

(c) use passwords provided for vulnerable customers;

(d) are appropriate persons to visit and enter customers’ premises;

(e) are able to inform customers, on request, of a contact point for help and advice they may require in relation to the safety and security of the supply of the electricity; and

(f) comply with the provisions of the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954.

3. This condition is subject to the provisions of standard condition 22 (Preparation, Review of and Compliance with Customer Service Codes).

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Condition 20. Payments in Relation to Standards of Performance

1. The licensee shall not enter into a use of system agreement with any electricity supplier that does not provide for the licensee to make payments in respect of the performance of the distribution business of the licensee to the electricity supplier for the benefit of any customer of that electricity supplier equivalent to such sums as would have been paid pursuant to any provision of Regulations made under section 39A of the Act.

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Condition 21. Complaint Handling Procedure

1. The licensee shall, no later than 1 November 2001, prepare and submit to the Authority for its approval a code of practice detailing the procedure for handling complaints from domestic customers about the manner in which the licensee conducts its distribution business.

2. Any procedure established in accordance with this condition shall specify the periods within which it is intended that different descriptions of complaint should be processed and resolved.

3. This condition is subject to the provisions of standard condition 22 (Preparation, Review of and Compliance with Customer Service Codes).

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Condition 22. Preparation, Review of and Compliance with Customer Service Codes

1. This condition applies to any code of practice required to be prepared by the licensee pursuant to standard condition 17 (Provision of Services for Persons who are of Pensionable Age or Disabled or Chronically Sick), standard condition 18 (Provision of Services for Persons who are Blind or Deaf), standard condition 19 (Code of Practice on Procedures in Respect of Site Access) and standard condition 21 (Complaint Handling Procedure) of this licence.

2. In first preparing such a code the licensee shall, prior to submitting that code to the Authority, consult the Consumer Council and shall have regard to any representations made by the Consumer Council about such code or the manner in which it is likely to be operated.

3. Where before the expiry of 30 days of the licensee first submitting such code to the Authority for its approval the Authority notifies the licensee that the Authority considers the code is not sufficient for the purposes of meeting the requirements of this licence, the licensee shall forthwith make such changes as the Authority may require.

4. The licensee shall, whenever requested to do so by the Authority, review such code and the manner in which it has been operated, with a view to determining whether any modification should be made to it or to the manner of its operation.

5. In carrying out any such review the licensee shall consult the Consumer Council and shall have regard to any representations made by the Consumer Council about such code or the manner in which it is likely to be or (as the case may be) has been operated.

6. The licensee shall submit any revision of such code which, after consulting the Consumer Council in accordance with paragraph 5, the licensee wishes to make, to the Authority for its approval and following its approval in writing shall then revise the code accordingly.

7. The licensee shall:

(a) as soon as practicable following the preparation of any code or any revision made to it send to the Authority and the Consumer Council a copy of such code or such revision (in each case in the form approved by the Authority);

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(b) at least once in each year, draw the attention of those customers to whom such code applies, to the existence of the code and of each substantive revision of it and to the means by which a copy of such code may be inspected in its latest form, in such manner as in the reasonable opinion of the licensee will give adequate publicity to it; and

(c) give or send free of charge a copy of such code (as from time to time revised) to any person who requests it.

8. No changes may be made to any code otherwise than in accordance with the foregoing procedures.

9. The licensee shall ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that it complies with such arrangements or procedures (as the case may be) as are contained in or described by any code to which this condition applies and approved by the Authority or any revision to such code approved by the Authority.

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Condition 23. Record of and Report on Performance

1. The licensee shall keep a record of its general operation of the arrangements mentioned in standard conditions 17 to 22 and if the Authority so directs in writing, of its operation of any particular cases specified, or of a description specified, by the Authority.

2. The licensee shall keep a statistical record of its performance in relation to the provision of services to domestic customers.

3. The licensee shall, from time to time as required by the Authority, provide to the Authority and to the Consumer Council such of the information contained in the records prepared in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 as the Authority may request in writing.

4. As soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of each calendar year, the licensee shall submit to the Authority and the Consumer Council a report dealing with the matters mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 in relation to that year and shall:

(a) publish the report so submitted in such manner as will in the reasonable opinion of the licensee secure adequate publicity for it; and

(b) send a copy of it free of charge to any person requesting one,

except that, in performing its obligations under sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), the licensee shall exclude from the report such information as appears to it to be necessary or expedient to ensure that, save where they consent, individual domestic customers referred to therein cannot readily be identified.

5. The report shall be presented, so far as is reasonably practicable, in a standard form designated by the Authority for the purposes of this condition.

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Condition 24. Provision of Information to the Authority

1. Subject to paragraphs 5 and 7, the licensee shall furnish to the Authority, in such manner and at such times as the Authority may reasonably require, such information and shall procure and furnish to it such reports, as the Authority may reasonably require or as may be necessary for the purpose of performing:

(a) the functions conferred on it by or under the Act; and

(b) any functions transferred to or conferred on it by or under the Utilities Act 2000.

2. The licensee shall procure from each company or other person which the licensee knows or reasonably should know is at any time an ultimate controller of the licensee a legally enforceable undertaking in favour of the licensee in a form specified by the Authority that ultimate controller (“the information covenantor”) will give to the licensee, and will procure that any person (including, without limitation, a corporate body) which is a subsidiary of, or is controlled by, the information covenantor (other than the licensee and its subsidiaries) will give to the licensee, all such information as may be necessary to enable the licensee to comply fully with the obligation imposed on it in paragraph 1. Such undertaking shall be obtained within 7 days of such corporate body or other person in question becoming an ultimate controller of the licensee and shall remain in force for so long as the licensee remains the holder of this licence and the information covenantor remains an ultimate controller of the licensee.

3. The licensee shall deliver to the Authority evidence (including a copy of each such undertaking) that the licensee has complied with the obligation to procure undertakings pursuant to paragraph 2, and shall comply with any direction from the Authority to enforce any undertaking so procured.

4. The licensee shall not, save with the consent in writing of the Authority, enter (directly or indirectly) into any agreement or arrangement with any ultimate controller of the licensee or, where the ultimate controller is a corporate body, any of the subsidiaries of such a corporate ultimate controller (other than the subsidiaries of the licensee) at a time when:

(a) an undertaking complying with paragraph 2 is not in place in relation to that ultimate controller; or

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(b) there is an unremedied breach of such undertaking; or

(c) the licensee is in breach of the terms of any direction issued by the Authority under paragraph 3 of this condition.

5. The licensee shall not be required by the Authority to furnish it under this condition with information for the purpose of the exercise of its functions under section 47 of the Act.

6. The licensee shall, if so requested by the Authority, give reasoned comments on the accuracy and text of any information or advice (so far as relating to its activities as holder of an electricity distribution licence) which the Authority proposes to publish pursuant to section 48 of the Act.

7. This condition shall not require the licensee to produce any documents or give any information which it could not be compelled to produce or give in evidence in civil proceedings before a court.

8. The power of the Authority to call for information under this condition is in addition to the power of the Authority to call for information under or pursuant to any other condition. There shall be a presumption that the provision of information in accordance with any other condition is sufficient for the purposes of that condition, but that presumption shall be rebutted, if the Authority states in writing that in its opinion such further information is, or is likely to be, necessary to enable it to exercise functions under the condition in question.

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Condition 25. Long Term Development Statement

1. The purposes of this condition are:

(a) to secure the provision by the licensee of information which will assist any person who contemplates entering into distribution arrangements with the licensee to identify and evaluate the opportunities for doing so; and

(b) to ensure the general availability of such information in the public domain.

2. Where the Authority gives the licensee a direction to do so, the licensee shall prepare and maintain a statement in such form as may be specified in the direction for the purposes of this condition generally, containing, with respect to each of the 5 succeeding years on a rolling basis beginning with 1^st April in any year, such information as it is reasonably practicable for the licensee to provide which identifies or relates to the matters specified in paragraph 4.

3. The direction specified in paragraph 2 may be given by the Authority at any time during a year. Any statement to be prepared by the licensee pursuant to paragraph 2 shall be prepared within 3 months of the giving of the direction. The licensee shall be obliged to include in the first such statement prepared the information referred to in paragraph 2 with respect to each year of the 5 succeeding years on a rolling basis beginning with 1^st April of the year in which the direction is given.

4. The matters referred to at paragraph 2 are:

(a) the use likely to be made of the licensee’s distribution system;

(b) the likely development of the licensee’s distribution system;

(c) the likely development of those facilities which the licensee expects to be taken into account from time to time in determining charges for making connections to its distribution system and for use of system;

(d) the licensee’s plans for modifying its distribution system, including works which it expects to be carried out for that purpose within the forthcoming 2 years (from the date of the statement);

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(e) the identification of those parts of the licensee’s distribution system which are likely to reach the limit of their capability during the succeeding 5 year period, including those parts which may experience thermal overloading, voltage problems or excess fault levels;

(f) the licensee’s plans to alleviate or rectify any predicted shortcomings in the operation and/or capability of its distribution system; and

(g) (where applicable) how the actual developments in the recent past compared with the licensee’s plans contained in previous statements.

5. Any statement to be prepared by the licensee pursuant to paragraph 2 shall be prepared within 3 months of the giving of the relevant direction.

6. Except in so far as the Authority otherwise consents, the licensee shall on an annual basis prepare a revision of any statement prepared under paragraph 2 so as to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the information in the revised statement is up to date.

7. The licensee shall, subject to any requirement to comply with the listing rules (within the meaning of Part IV of the Financial Services Act 1986) of The Stock Exchange and with paragraph 8 –

(a) furnish the Authority with a copy of the statement prepared under paragraph 2 and of each revision of the statement prepared under paragraph 6;

(b) in such form and manner as the Authority may direct, publish such a summary of the statement or, as the case may be, of a revision of the statement as will assist a person in deciding whether to ask for a copy of the statement;

(c) prepare a version of the statement or revision which excludes, so far as is practicable, any such matter as is mentioned in paragraph 8 and send a copy thereof to any person who asks for one and makes such payment to the licensee in respect of the cost thereof as it may require not exceeding such amount as the Authority may from time to time approve for the purposes hereof.

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8. In complying with the requirements of paragraph 7(b), the licensee shall have regard to the need for excluding, so far as is practicable, any matter which relates to the affairs of a person where the publication of that matter would or might seriously and prejudicially affect his interests.

9. Any question arising under paragraph 8 as to whether the publication of some matter which relates to the affairs of a person would or might seriously and prejudicially affect his interests shall be determined by the Authority.

10. A direction given under paragraph 2 is only effective where the Authority has informed the licensee of its intention to do so in a notice which:

(a) states the date on which it is proposed that the direction should take effect;

(b) sets out the proposed contents of the direction with respect to the form in which the statement is to be prepared and maintained for the purposes of this condition;

(c) specifies the time (not being less than 28 days from the date of the notice) within which representations with respect to the proposed direction may be made,

and has considered any representations which are duly made by the licensee and are not withdrawn.

11. Any consultation undertaken by the Authority with the holder of a licence granted under section 6(1)(c) of the Act before the determination of this standard condition by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 33(1) of the Utilities Act 2000 shall be effective for the purposes of paragraph 10.

12. In this condition, “distribution arrangements” includes distribution arrangements which relate to –

(a) the utilisation of the licensee’s distribution system; and

(b) connections to the licensee’s distribution system.

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Condition 26. Compliance with CUSC

1. Insofar as the licensee distributes or offers to distribute to any premises situated in England and Wales, the licensee shall be a party to the CUSC Framework Agreement and shall comply with the CUSC and, if it is party to the agreement known as the Master Connection and Use of System Agreement (“MCUSA”), execute such other documents as shall be stated as required to be made in any direction issued by the Authority to enable the MCUSA and its supplemental agreements and ancillary service agreements (as defined or referred to in MCUSA) and any associated agreements derived from MCUSA to be amended appropriately into the CUSC Framework Agreement, CUSC, bilateral agreements, construction agreements and, so far as is appropriate, associated agreements derived from CUSC so as to maintain continuity of contractual relationships.

2. The licensee shall take all reasonable steps to secure and implement (consistently with the procedures applicable under or in relation to the core industry documents to which it is a party (or in relation to which it holds rights in respect of amendment) as modified or replaced from time to time), and shall not take any steps to prevent or unduly delay, changes to those documents, such changes being changes which are appropriate in order to give full and timely effect to and/or in consequence of any modification which has been made to the CUSC.

3. For the avoidance of doubt, paragraph 2 is without prejudice to any rights of approval, veto or direction in respect of proposed changes to the core industry documents which the Authority may have.

4. In this condition:

“bilateral agreement” means an agreement between the holder of a transmission licence in England and Wales and a CUSC user supplemental to the CUSC relating to a direct connection to that transmission system identifying the relevant connection site and setting out other site specific details in relation to that connection to the transmission system, including provisions relating to payment of connection charges.

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“construction agreement”	means an agreement between the holder of a transmission licence in England and Wales and a CUSC user in respect of construction works required on that transmission system and the associated construction works of the CUSC user in relation to a connection to the transmission system or in relation to a generating station connected to a distribution system in England and Wales, whether for the initial connection or a modification of the connection.
“core industry documents”	means those documents which have been designated by the Secretary of State as such.
“CUSC”	means the Connection and Use of System Code required to be in place pursuant to the transmission licence granted to the transmission company in England and Wales, as from time to time modified.
“CUSC Framework Agreement”	means the agreement of that title, in the form approved by the Secretary of State, by which the CUSC is made contractually binding between the parties to that agreement, as amended from time to time with the approval of the Secretary of State.

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Condition 27. Not used

Condition 28. Not used

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Condition 29. Disposal of Relevant Assets

1. The licensee shall not dispose of or relinquish operational control over any relevant asset otherwise than in accordance with the following paragraphs of this condition.

2. Save as provided in paragraph 3, the licensee shall give to the Authority not less than two months’ prior written notice of its intention to dispose of or relinquish operational control over any relevant asset, together with such further information as the Authority may request relating to such asset or the circumstances of such intended disposal or relinquishment of control or to the intentions in regard thereto of the person proposing to acquire such asset or operational control over such asset.

3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, the licensee may dispose of or relinquish operational control over any relevant asset:

(a) where:

(i) the Authority has issued directions ^{1 2} for the purposes of this condition containing a general consent (whether or not subject to conditions) to:

(aa) transactions of a specified description; or

(bb) the disposal of or relinquishment of operational control over relevant assets of a specified description; and

(ii) the transaction or the relevant assets are of a description to which such directions apply and the disposal or relinquishment is in accordance with any conditions to which the consent is subject; or

(b) where the disposal or relinquishment of operational control in question is required by or under any enactment or subordinate legislation.

4. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the licensee may dispose of or relinquish operational control over any relevant asset as is specified in any notice given under paragraph 2 in circumstances where:

(a) the Authority confirms in writing that it consents to such disposal or relinquishment (which consent may be made subject to the acceptance by the licensee or any third party in favour of whom the relevant asset is proposed to be disposed or operational control is proposed to be relinquished to) of such conditions as the Authority may specify; or

¹ Direction issued under Condition 27 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 29 of this licence (01.04.92)

² General Consent issued under Standard Condition 29 of this licence

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(b) the Authority does not inform the licensee in writing of any objection to such disposal or relinquishment of control within the notice period referred to in paragraph 2.

5. In this condition:

“disposal”	means:
	(a) in relation to disposal of a relevant asset situated in England and Wales includes any sale, gift, exchange, assignment, lease, licence, loan, mortgage, charge, or grant of any other encumbrance or the permitting of any encumbrance to subsist or any other disposition;
	(b) in relation to disposal of a relevant asset situated in Scotland includes the grant of any disposition, conveyance, contract of excambion, any lease, assignation, licence, the grant of any right of possession, loan, standard security, floating charge to a third party, or the grant of any servitude right, wayleave or any other transaction or event which is capable under any enactment or rule of law of affecting the title to a registered interest in land
	and “dispose” and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;
	includes, without limitation, entering into any agreement or arrangement whereby operational

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	control of a relevant asset or relevant assets is not or ceases to be under the sole management of the licensee.
“relinquishment of operational control”

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Condition 30. Not used

Condition 31. Not used

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SECTION C. DISTRIBUTION SERVICES OBLIGATIONS

Condition 32. Interpretation of Section C (Distribution Services Obligations)

1.	In this Section of the standard conditions, unless the context otherwise requires:
	“data transfer catalogue”	has the meaning given at paragraph 4(c) of standard condition 37 (The Metering Point Administration Service and the Master Registration Agreement).
	“data transfer service”	Means the data transfer service and service facility to be established, operated and maintained by the licensee, in conjunction and co-operation with all other distribution services providers, in accordance with and comprising the elements set out in standard condition 38 (Establishment of a Data Transfer Service).
	“permitted purpose”	means the purpose of all or any of the following:

(a) the distribution business or any other business or activity within the limits of paragraph 4 of standard condition 43 (Restriction on Activity and Financial Ring Fencing);

(b) any business or activity to which the Authority has given its consent in writing in accordance with paragraph 3 (d) of condition 43; and

(c) without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (a), any payment or transaction lawfully made or undertaken by the licensee for a purpose within sub-paragraphs 1(b)(i) to (vii) of standard condition 47 (Indebtedness);

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Condition 32A. Convenience Customers

1. The licensee shall establish and maintain an accurate list of any convenience customers.

2. The licensee shall update the list referred to in paragraph 1 at least once in every period of 12 months.

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Condition 33. Not used

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Condition 34. Compulsory Acquisition of Land etc.

1. The powers and rights conferred by or under the provisions of Schedule 3 to the Act (Compulsory Acquisition of Land etc. by Licence Holders) shall have effect in relation to the licensee to enable the licensee to carry on the activities authorised by this licence and which:

(a) are comprised within its distribution business; and

(b) are carried on within the distribution services area or necessitate the use of the licensee’s distribution system, including any extension of or addition to the licensee’s distribution system, whether or not connected to such system.

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Condition 35. Other Powers etc.

1. The powers and rights conferred by or under the provisions of Schedule 4 to the Act (Other Powers etc. of Licence Holders) shall have effect in relation to the licensee to enable the licensee to carry on the activities authorised by this licence and which:

(a) are comprised within its distribution business; and

(b) are carried on within the distribution services area or necessitate the use of the licensee’s distribution system, including any extension of or addition to the licensee’s distribution system, whether or not connected to such system.

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Condition 36. Basis of Charges for Distributor Metering and Data Services: Requirements for Transparency

1. The licensee shall as soon as practicable prepare statements in a form approved by the Authority setting out the basis upon which charges will be made for the provision of each of the distributor metering and data services, in each case in such form and with such detail as shall be necessary to enable any person to make a reasonable estimate of the charges to which the person would become liable to pay for the provision of such services and of the other terms, likely to have a material impact on the conduct of the person’s business, upon which the service would be provided and (without prejudice to the foregoing) including the information set out in paragraph 2.

2. The statements referred to at paragraph 1 shall include a schedule of charges for each of the distributor metering and data services, together with an explanation of the methods by which and the principles on which such charges will be calculated.

3. The Authority may, upon the written request of the licensee, issue a direction relieving the licensee of its obligations under paragraph 1 to such extent and subject to such terms and conditions as the Authority may specify in that direction.

4. The licensee shall not in setting its charges for, or in setting the other terms that will apply to the provision of any of the distributor metering and data services, restrict, distort or prevent competition in the generation, distribution or supply of electricity or in the provision of meter maintenance or data retrieval services.

5. The licensee:

(a) shall, at least once in every year, review the information set out in the statements prepared in accordance with paragraph 1 in order that the information set out in such statements shall continue to be accurate in all material respects; and

(b) may, with the approval of the Authority, from time to time alter the form of such statements.

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6. The licensee shall send a copy of the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph 1, and of each revision of such statement, to the Authority.

7. The licensee shall give or send a copy of the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph 1, or (as the case may be) of the latest revision of such statement, to any person who requests a copy of such statement or statements.

8. The licensee may make a charge for any statement given or sent pursuant to paragraph 7 of an amount which shall not exceed the amount specified in directions issued by the Authority for the purposes of this condition based on the Authority’s estimate of the licensee’s reasonable costs of providing such a statement.

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Condition 36A. Non-Discrimination in the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services

1. In the provision of any of the distributor metering and data services, the licensee shall not discriminate between any persons or class or classes of persons.

2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, and subject to the provisions of standard condition 36 (Basis of Charges for Distributor Metering and Data Services: Requirements for Transparency), the licensee shall not make charges for the provision of any of the distributor metering and data services to any person or class or classes of persons which differ from the charges for such provision to any other person or class or classes of person except in so far as such differences reasonably reflect differences in the costs associated with such provision.

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Condition 36B. Requirement to offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services

1. This condition sets out the obligations relating to the following services:

(a) the provision of metering equipment which, at the discretion of the licensee, may be metering equipment which is owned by him or by any person other than the person making such application;

(b) the installation, commissioning, testing, repair, maintenance, removal and replacement of metering equipment;

(c) metering point administration services pursuant to and in accordance with the Master Registration Agreement; and

(d) data transfer services.

2. On application made by any person, the licensee shall (subject to paragraph 6) offer to enter into an agreement for the provision within its distribution services area of such of the services described in sub-paragraphs 1(a), (b) and (c) as may be required.

3. On application made by any person the licensee shall (subject to paragraph 6) offer to enter into an agreement for the provision of data transfer services.

4. In making an offer pursuant to this condition to enter into any agreement, the licensee shall set out:

(a) the date by which the services required shall be provided (time being of the essence, unless otherwise agreed between parties);

(b) the charges to be paid in respect of the services required, such charges (unless manifestly inappropriate):

(i) to be presented in such a way as to be referable to the statements prepared in accordance with paragraph 1 of standard condition 36 (Basis of Charges for Distributor Metering and Data Services: Requirements for Transparency) or any revision thereof;

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(ii) to be set in conformity with the requirements of standard condition 36 (Basis of Charges for Distributor Metering and Data Services: Requirements for Transparency); and

(c) such other detailed terms in respect of each of the services required as are or may be appropriate for the purpose of the agreement.

5. The licensee shall offer terms for agreements in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 as soon as practicable and (save where the Authority consents to a longer period) in any event not more than 28 days after receipt by the licensee (or its agent) from any person of an application containing all such information as the licensee may reasonably require for the purpose of formulating the terms of the offer.

6. The licensee shall not be obliged pursuant to this condition to offer to enter or to enter into any agreement if to do so would be likely to involve the licensee being:

(a) in breach of its duties under section 9 of the Act;

(b) in breach of any regulations made under section 29 of the Act or of any other enactment relating to safety or standards applicable in respect of the distribution business;

(c) in breach of any Grid Code or Distribution Code; or

(d) in breach of the conditions.

7. The licensee shall undertake each of the services referred to in paragraph 1 in the most efficient and economic manner practicable having regard to the alternatives available and the other requirements of the licence and of the Act in so far as they relate to the provision of those services.

8. In the provision of any of the services referred to in paragraph 1 the licensee shall not restrict, distort or prevent competition in the supply of electricity.

9. The services referred to in paragraph 1 shall collectively be referred to as the distributor metering and data services. For the avoidance of doubt distributor metering and data services as referred to in this licence excludes data retrieval, data processing and data aggregation.

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10. In this condition:

“data retrieval”	means services comprising any or all of the following:
	the retrieval and verification of meter reading data from electricity meters and the delivery of such data to any person for the purpose of data processing.
“data processing”	means services comprising any or all of the following:
	the processing, validation and estimation of meter reading data, and the creation, processing and validation of data in respect of the consumption of electricity at premises which receive an unmetered supply, and the delivery of such data to any person for the purpose of data aggregation.
“data aggregation”	means services comprising any or all of the following:
	the collation and summation of meter reading data (whether actual or estimated) and of data in respect of the consumption of electricity at premises which receive an unmetered supply, and the delivery of such data to any person for settlement purposes.

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Condition 36C. Functions of the Authority

1. If, after a period which appears to the Authority to be reasonable for the purpose, the licensee has failed to enter into an agreement with any person entitled or claiming to be entitled thereto pursuant to a request under standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services), the Authority may, on the application of such person or the licensee, settle any terms of the agreement in dispute between the licensee and that person in such manner as appears to the Authority to be reasonable having (in so far as relevant) regard in particular to the following considerations:

(a) that the performance by the licensee of its obligations under the agreement should not cause it to be in breach of those provisions referred to at paragraph 6 of standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services); and

(b) that the terms and conditions of the agreement so settled by the Authority and of any other agreements entered into by the licensee pursuant to a request under standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services) should be in as similar a form as is practicable.

2. In so far as any person entitled or claiming to be entitled to an offer under standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services) wishes to proceed on the basis of the agreement as settled by the Authority pursuant to paragraph 1, the licensee shall forthwith enter into and implement such agreement in accordance with its terms.

3. If either party to such agreement proposes to vary the contractual terms of any agreement for the provision of any of the distributor metering and data services entered into pursuant to standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services) or this condition in any manner provided for under such agreement, the Authority may, at the request of that party, settle any dispute relating to such variation in such manner as appears to the Authority to be reasonable.

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4. The Authority may (following consultation with the licensee) issue directions relieving the licensee of its obligations under standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services) relating to distributor metering and data services in respect of such parts of that condition and to such extent as may be specified in the directions.

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Condition 37. The Metering Point Administration Service and the Master Registration Agreement

1. The Metering Point Administration Service shall, where so requested, fulfil within the distribution services area the functions set out in standard condition 14 (Provision of the Metering Point Administration Service and Compliance with the Master Registration Agreement) in respect of all premises connected to another distribution system within the distribution services area.

2. The licensee shall use its best endeavours, in conjunction and co-operation with all other distribution services providers, to prepare and maintain a form of agreement to be known as the Master Registration Agreement.

3. The Master Registration Agreement shall be an agreement made between:

(a) on the one part, the licensee and all other licensed distributors; and

(b) on the other part:

(i) all electricity suppliers (or their agents) which require the provision of metering point administration services from at least one licensed distributor; and

(ii) such other persons as are, for settlement purposes, appropriate parties to the agreement.

4. The Master Registration Agreement shall comprise:

(a) terms for the provision of metering point administration services in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 3 of standard condition 14 (Provision of the Metering Point Administration Service and Compliance with the Master Registration Agreement) and the equivalent requirements in the distribution licences of all other licensed distributors;

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(b) provisions to facilitate, and procedures and practices to be followed by electricity suppliers in relation to changes of electricity supplier in respect of any premises;

(c) a catalogue of definitions, flows and forms of such data as may require to be transferred by or to parties to the Master Registration Agreement, or as between any persons for settlement purposes or for any related purposes (the “data transfer catalogue”);

(d) arrangements for the variation of the Master Registration Agreement following consultation with the parties, or representatives of the parties, to that agreement;

(e) provisions (which shall require to be approved in advance by the Authority) by virtue of which the whole or specified parts of the Master Registration Agreement shall not be capable of variation without the prior approval of the Authority; and

(f) such other matters as are or may be appropriate for the development, maintenance and operation of an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system for the supply of electricity and for the purpose of facilitating competition in electricity supply.

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Condition 38. Establishment of a Data Transfer Service

1. The licensee shall use its best endeavours, in conjunction and co-operation with all other distribution services providers:

(a) to establish, or to procure the establishment of, a service to be known as the data transfer service; and

(b) subsequently to operate and maintain, or to procure the subsequent operation and maintenance of, such data transfer service in accordance with the provisions of this condition.

2. The data transfer service shall:

(a) provide a network over which may be made all of the electronic data transfers specified at paragraph 3;

(b) operate and maintain that network; and

(c) provide a connection to that network, on request, to any person who is or will be a party to any of the electronic data transfers specified at paragraph 3.

3. The electronic data transfers specified at this paragraph are those which are reasonably required for any of the purposes set out at paragraph 4 and which are made between:

(a) a Metering Point Administration Service operator and an electricity supplier or any agent thereof;

(b) a Metering Point Administration Service operator and any person identified in the Balancing and Settlement Code or the Settlement Agreement for Scotland as an appropriate person for the receipt of data from the Metering Point Administration Service operator for settlement purposes;

(c) any transmission company (or any agent thereof) or Scottish Electricity Settlements Limited or its successor in title (or any agent thereof) and an electricity supplier (or any agent thereof);

(d) an electricity supplier (or any agent thereof) and another electricity supplier (or any agent thereof);

(e) an electricity supplier and any of its agents;

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(f) different agents of the same electricity supplier;

(g) electricity suppliers (or their agents) and generators (or their agents) which are parties to the Settlement Agreement for Scotland; and

(h) Scottish Electricity Settlements Limited or its successor in title (or any agent thereof) and any person (or any agent thereof) who is a party to or complies with the Settlement Agreement for Scotland.

4. The purposes of this paragraph are to:

(a) Meet obligations with respect to the transfer of data for settlement purposes;

(b) communicate meter reading and meter standing data;

(c) facilitate the provision of metering point administration services;

(d) communicate distribution use of system information; and

(e) fulfil such other requirements relating to the transfer of data as may be requisite for the supply of electricity to customers and compliance by electricity suppliers with the Master Registration Agreement.

5. The data transfer service shall, where relevant, transmit data in a form which complies with the provisions of the data transfer catalogue.

6. In fulfilling its obligations under paragraph 1 the licensee shall not, or (if appropriate) shall ensure that any third party acting on the licensee’s instruction or behalf shall not, restrict, distort or prevent competition in the provision of meters, meter maintenance, data retrieval, data processing, data aggregation or prepayment meter services and markets for any of the distributor metering and data services.

7. Any obligation placed on the licensee under standard conditions 36A to 36C in respect of the provision of the data transfer service shall (for the purposes of those conditions) be treated as a requirement on the licensee to use its best endeavours, in conjunction and co-operation with all other distribution services providers, to fulfil that obligation or to procure the fulfilment of that obligation by a third party, and standard conditions 36A to 36C shall apply mutatis mutandis to the provision of data transfer services by the distribution services providers acting co-operatively and by means of procurement of third party services.

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8. Further, in relation to the provision of data transfer services the reference at paragraph 1 of standard condition 36C (Functions of the Authority) to the licensee failing to enter into an agreement shall be a reference to the licensee, in conjunction with all other distribution services providers, failing to enter into, or failing to procure that a third party enters into, an agreement for the provision of those services.

9. In this condition:

“Metering Point Administration Service operator” means the licensee or any other distribution services provider in its capacity as a provider of metering point administration services.

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Condition 39. Restriction on Use of Certain Information and Independence of the Distribution Business

1. In this Condition and in Condition 40:

‘Confidential information’ means information relating to, or derived from, the distribution business which is not published or otherwise legitimately in the public domain; and

‘Relevant supplier or shipper’ means the holder of an electricity or gas supply licence or a gas shipper’s licence, which is an affiliate or related undertaking of the licensee.

2. The Licensee shall put in place and at all times maintain managerial and operational systems which prevent any relevant supplier or shipper from having access to confidential information except and to the extent that such information:

a) is made available on an equal basis to any gas or electricity supplier or gas shipper or

b) appertains to a customer who at the time to which the information relates was a customer of the relevant supplier or

c) is of a type that has been confirmed by the Authority in writing as corporate.

3. The Licensee shall at all times manage and operate the Distribution Business in a way calculated to ensure that it does not restrict, prevent or distort competition in the supply of electricity or gas or the shipping of gas or the generation of electricity.

4. Unless otherwise directed by the Authority, the Licensee shall no later than 31 May 2002 have in place a statement (in this Condition “the statement”), approved by the Authority, describing the practices, procedures and systems which the licensee has adopted (or intends to adopt) to secure compliance with paragraphs 2 and 3.

5. Where the Authority does not indicate otherwise within 60 days of receipt of the statement, the statement shall be deemed to be approved by the Authority.

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6. The statement shall in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs 2 and 3) set out how the Licensee shall:

a) maintain the full managerial and operational independence of the Distribution Business from any relevant supplier or shipper ;

b) maintain the branding of the distribution business so that it is fully independent from the branding used by any relevant supplier or shipper;

c) secure that any arrangements for the use of or access to:

i) premises or parts of premises occupied by persons engaged in, or in respect of, the management or operation of the Distribution Business ;

ii) systems for the recording, processing or storage of data to which persons engaged in, or in respect of, the management or operation of the Distribution Business also have access;

iii) equipment, facilities or property employed for the management or operation of the Distribution Business ; or

iv) the services of persons who are (whether or not as their principal occupation) engaged in, or in respect of, the management or operation of the Distribution Business ;

by any relevant supplier or shipper or by any person engaged in or in respect of the activities of such a relevant supplier or shipper shall be such as to prevent any breach of the requirements of those paragraphs; and

d) manage the transfer of employees from the Distribution Business to any relevant supplier or shipper.

7. The Licensee may, with the approval of the Authority, revise the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph 4.

8. The Licensee shall take all reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the terms of the statement as from time to time revised by the Licensee and approved by the Authority.

9. The licensee shall publish a copy of the approved statement prepared in accordance with paragraph 4 ( or the latest approved revision) on its company’s website within fifteen working days of its approval by the Authority.

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Condition 40. Appointment of Compliance Officer

1. The Licensee shall ensure, following consultation with the Authority that a competent person (who shall be known as the “compliance officer”) shall be appointed for the purpose of facilitating compliance by the Licensee with standard condition 39, and, insofar as they relate to relationships with relevant suppliers and shippers, standard condition 41 and Paragraph 1 of standard conditions 4A and 36A (together, “the relevant duties”).

2. The Licensee shall at all times ensure that the compliance officer is engaged for the performance of such duties and tasks as the Licensee considers it appropriate to assign to him for the purposes specified at paragraph 1, which duties and tasks shall include those set out at paragraph 5.

3. The Licensee shall procure that the compliance officer:

(a) is provided with such staff, premises, equipment, facilities and other resources; and

(b) has such access to the licensee’s premises, systems, information documentation

as, in each case, he might reasonably expect to require for the fulfilment of the duties and tasks assigned to him.

4. The Licensee shall make available to the compliance officer a copy of any complaint or representation received by it from any person in respect of a matter arising under or by virtue of those standard conditions and parts of standard conditions specified in paragraph 1.

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5. The duties and tasks assigned to the compliance officer shall include:

(a) providing relevant advice and information to the Licensee for the purpose of facilitating its compliance with the relevant duties;

(b) monitoring the effectiveness of the practices, procedures and systems adopted by the Licensee in accordance with the statement referred to at paragraph 4 of standard condition 39;

(c) advising whether, to the extent that the implementation of such practices, procedures and systems requires the co-operation of any other person, they are designed so as reasonably to admit of the required co-operation;

(d) investigating any complaint or representation made available to him in accordance with paragraph 4;

(e) recommending and advising upon the remedial action which any such investigation has demonstrated to be necessary or desirable;

(f) providing relevant advice and information to the Licensee for the purpose of ensuring its effective implementation of:

(i) the practices, procedures and systems adopted in accordance with the statement referred to at paragraph 4 of standard condition 39; and

(ii) any remedial action recommended in accordance with sub-paragraph (e); and

(g) reporting annually to the directors of the Licensee - in respect of each year after this standard condition comes into force - as to his activities during the period covered by the report, including the fulfilment of the other duties and tasks assigned to him by the Licensee.

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6. As soon as is reasonably practicable following each annual report of the compliance officer, the Licensee shall produce a report:

(a) as to its compliance during the relevant year with the relevant duties; and

(b) as to its implementation of the practices, procedures and systems adopted in accordance with the statement referred to at paragraph 4 of standard condition 39.

7. The report produced in accordance with paragraph 6 shall in particular:

(a) detail the activities of the compliance officer during the relevant year;

(b) refer to such other matters as are or may be appropriate in relation to the implementation of the practices, procedures and systems adopted in accordance with the statement referred to at paragraph 4 of standard condition 39; and

(c) set out the details of any investigations conducted by the compliance officer, including:

(i) the number, type and source of the complaints or representations on which such investigations were based;

(ii) the outcome of such investigations; and

(iii) any remedial action taken by the Licensee following such investigations.

8. The Licensee shall submit to the Authority a copy of the report produced in accordance with paragraph 6, and shall publish the report on its website.

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Condition 41. Prohibition of Cross-Subsidies

1. The licensee shall procure that the distribution business shall not give any cross-subsidy to, or receive any cross-subsidy from, any other business of the licensee or of an affiliate or related undertaking of the licensee.

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Condition 42. Regulatory Accounts

1. The following paragraphs of this condition apply for the purpose of ensuring that the licensee (and any affiliate or related undertaking) maintains accounting and reporting arrangements which enable regulatory accounts to be prepared for the consolidated distribution business and showing the financial affairs of the consolidated distribution business.

2. Unless the Authority otherwise consents (such consent may be given in relation to some or all of the obligations in this condition and may be given subject to such conditions as the Authority considers appropriate), the licensee shall:

(a) keep or cause to be kept for the period referred to in section 222(5)(b) of the Companies Act 1985 and in the manner referred to in that section such accounting records in respect of the consolidated distribution business so that the revenues, costs, assets, liabilities, reserves and provisions of, or reasonably attributable to, the consolidated distribution business are separately identifiable in the accounting records of the licensee (and any affiliate or related undertaking) from those of any other business of the licensee;

(b) prepare on a consistent basis from such accounting records in respect of:

(i) each financial year, accounting statements comprising a profit and loss account, a statement of total recognised gains and losses, a balance sheet, and a cash flow statement, together with notes thereto, and showing separately in respect of the consolidated distribution business and in appropriate detail the amounts of any revenue, cost, asset, liability, reserve or provision which has been either:

(aa) charged from or to any other business together with a description of the basis of that charge; or

(bb) determined by apportionment or allocation between the consolidated distribution business and any other business together with a description of the basis of the apportionment or allocation; and

(ii) the first six months of each financial year, an interim profit and loss account; and

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(iii) each financial year, sufficient accounting information in respect of the consolidated distribution business to allow the preparation of consolidated accounting statements of the licensee or, where applicable, the ultimate controller. Such information shall include a profit and loss account, a statement of total recognised gains and losses, a balance sheet, and a cash flow statement together with notes thereto;

(c) procure, in respect of the accounting statements prepared in accordance with this condition in respect of each financial year, a report by the auditors and addressed to the Authority stating whether in their opinion those statements have been properly prepared in accordance with this condition and give a true and fair view of the revenues, costs, assets, liabilities, reserves and provisions of, or reasonably attributable to, the consolidated distribution business to which the statements relate; and

(d) deliver to the Authority a copy of the account referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(ii), the auditors’ report referred to in sub-paragraph (c), the accounting statements referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(i) and the accounting information referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(iii), as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event not later than three months after the end of the period to which it relates in the case of the account referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(ii) and six months after the end of the financial year to which they relate in the case of the accounting statements, auditors’ report and accounting information referred to in sub-paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(iii) and (c).

3. Unless the Authority so specifies in directions issued for the purposes of this condition, or with the Authority’s prior written approval, the licensee shall not in relation to the accounting statements in respect of a financial year change the bases of charge or apportionment or allocation referred to in sub-paragraph 2(b)(i) from those applied in respect of the previous financial year.

4. Where, in relation to the accounting statements in respect of a financial year, the licensee has changed such bases of charge or apportionment or allocation from those adopted for the immediately preceding financial year, the licensee shall, if so directed in directions issued by the Authority, in addition to preparing accounting statements on those bases which it has adopted, prepare such accounting statements on the bases which applied in respect of the immediately preceding financial year.

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5. Accounting statements and information in respect of a financial year prepared under sub-paragraph 2(b)(i) and (b)(iii) shall, so far as reasonably practicable and unless otherwise approved by the Authority having regard to the purposes of this condition:

(a) have the same content and format as the statutory accounts of the licensee prepared under section 226 and, where appropriate, section 227 of the Companies Act 1985 and conform to the best commercial accounting practices including all relevant accounting standards issued or adopted by the Accounting Standards Board currently in force;

(b) state the accounting policies adopted; and

(c) with the exception of the part of such statements and information which shows separately the amounts charged, apportioned or allocated and describes the bases of charge or apportionment or allocation respectively, be published with the statutory accounts of the licensee.

6. Unless the accounting statements and information prepared under sub-paragraph 2(b)(i) and (b)(iii) are prepared on the current cost basis as provided by the alternative accounting rules, the licensee shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Authority, in addition to preparing those accounting statements under that paragraph, prepare accounting statements for the consolidated distribution business covering the same period, which shall comprise and show separately:

(a) a profit and loss account, a statement of total recognised gains and losses, a balance sheet, and a cash flow statement, together with notes thereto, which shall:

(i) include in respect of current cost assets amounts determined on the current cost basis as provided by the alternative accounting rules; and

(ii) show or disclose the information and other matters required by the alternative accounting rules to be shown or disclosed in accounts where the amounts included in respect of assets covered by any items shown in those accounts have been determined on any basis mentioned in paragraph 31 of section C of Part II of Schedule 4 to the Companies Act 1985;

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(b) in respect of the consolidated distribution business the adjusted amount of any such provision for depreciation as is referred to in paragraph 32(2) of section C of Part II of Schedule 4 to the Companies Act 1985 and the items shown in the profit and loss account of the consolidated distribution business for the relevant period which are affected by the determination of amounts on the current cost basis as provided by the alternative accounting rules, including the profit (or loss) before taxation; and

(c) such other current cost information as is referred to in the handbook as the Authority may reasonably require;

and shall deliver the same, together with an auditors’ report prepared in relation to the current cost basis accounting statements in the form referred to in sub-paragraph 2(c), to the Authority within the time limit referred to in sub-paragraph 2(d), and shall (with the exception of the part of such statements and information which shows separately the amounts charged, apportioned or allocated and describes the bases of charge or apportionment or allocation respectively) publish the same with the statutory accounts of the licensee.

7. References in this condition to costs or liabilities of, or reasonably attributable to, the consolidated distribution business shall be construed as excluding taxation and capital liabilities which do not relate principally to the consolidated distribution business, and interest thereon; and references to any profit and loss account shall be construed accordingly.

8. Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of the terms of this licence, references in this condition to sections of the Companies Act 1985 are references to those provisions as amended, substituted or inserted by the relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1989 and if such provisions of the Companies Act 1989 are not in force at the date of grant of this licence shall be construed as if such provisions were in force at such date.

9. For the purposes of paragraph 6:

“alternative accounting rules” means the rules set out in section C of Part II of Schedule 4 to the Companies Act 1985.

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“current cost assets”

means assets of any description mentioned in paragraph 31 of section C of Part II of Schedule 4 to the Companies Act 1985.

“the handbook”

means the handbook issued by the Accounting Standards Committee of the Consultative Committee of Accounting Bodies (CCAB Limited) or any successor body entitled “Accounting for the effects of changing prices: a handbook” in its current edition for the time being or in the event that no such handbook shall be in issue such guidance or publication as may be issued in replacement or substitution therefor.

10. For the purposes of this condition:

“consolidated distribution business”	means the consolidation, for regulatory accounting purposes, of the businesses referred to in the definition of “distribution business” as defined in standard condition 1 (Definitions and Interpretation).
“regulatory accounts”	means the accounts required to be prepared by the licensee pursuant to this condition.

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Condition 42A. Change of Financial Year

1. The definition of “financial year” in standard condition 1 (Definitions and Interpretation) shall, for the purpose only of the statutory accounts of the licensee, cease to apply to the licensee from the date the licensee sends a notice to the Authority for that purpose.

2. Such notice:

(a) shall specify the date from which, for the purpose set out at paragraph 1, the current and subsequent financial years of the licensee shall run; and

(b) shall continue in effect until revoked by the licensee issuing a further notice.

3. While the notice continues in effect the licensee shall procure the preparation of and shall deliver to the Authority audited group accounts for its group of companies for each financial year.

4. Audited group accounts produced in accordance with paragraph 3:

(a) shall comprise consolidated group accounts in respect of the group of companies;

(b) shall, save insofar as is necessary to reflect a different financial year, have the same form and content as the statutory accounts of the licensee;

(c) shall be accompanied by a report by the auditors and addressed to the Authority stating whether in their opinion the audited group accounts have been properly prepared in accordance with this condition and give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group of companies and of its profits or losses, total recognised gains or losses and cash flows during the financial year;

(d) may, with the prior written consent of the Authority, omit or provide in a different form, specified in the consent, such information as may be specified in the consent; and

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(e) shall clearly disclose any differences between the accounting policies underlying the preparation of the statutory accounts of the licensee and the accounting policies underlying the preparation of the audited group accounts.

5. The licensee may, for the purpose only of its statutory accounts, change its financial year from that previously notified by sending to the Authority a new notice pursuant to paragraph 1. Where the licensee sends the Authority a new notice the previous notice shall be revoked, as provided by sub-paragraph 2(b). The licensee’s financial year-end will change with effect from the date specified in the new notice. The new notice shall specify the licensee’s new financial year-end.

6. No provisions of this condition shall apply to the financial year of the licensee as defined in standard condition 1 (Definitions and Interpretation) for the purpose of accounts produced in compliance with standard condition 42 (Regulatory Accounts). No provisions of this condition shall affect the licensee’s obligations in respect of payment of licence fees under standard condition 3 (Payments by the Licensee to the Authority).

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Condition 43. Restriction on Activity and Financial Ring Fencing

1. Save as provided by paragraphs 3 and 4, the licensee shall not conduct any business or carry on any activity other than the distribution business.

2. The licensee shall not without the prior written consent of the Authority hold or acquire shares or other investments of any kind except:

(a) shares or other investments in a body corporate the sole activity of which is to carry on business for a permitted purpose; or

(b) shares or other investments in a body corporate which is a subsidiary of the licensee and incorporated by it solely for the purpose of raising finance for the distribution business; or

(c) investments acquired in the usual and ordinary course of the licensee’s treasury management operations, subject to the licensee maintaining in force, in relation to those operations, a system of internal controls which complies with best corporate governance practice as required (or in the absence of any such requirement recommended) from time to time for listed companies in the United Kingdom.

3. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 nothing in this condition shall prevent:

(a) any affiliate in which the licensee does not hold shares or other investments from conducting any business or carrying on any activity;

(b) the licensee from holding shares as, or performing the supervisory or management functions of, an investor in respect of any body corporate in which it holds an interest consistent with the provisions of this licence;

(c) the licensee from performing the supervisory or management functions of a holding company in respect of any subsidiary; or

(d) the licensee from carrying on any business or conducting any activity to which the Authority has given its consent in writing;

4. Nothing in this condition shall prevent the licensee or an affiliate or related undertaking of the licensee in which the licensee holds shares or other investments (a ‘relevant associate’) conducting de-minimis business as defined in this paragraph so long as the limitations specified in this paragraph are complied with.

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(a) For the purpose of this paragraph “ de-minimis business” means any business or activity carried on by the licensee or a relevant associate or relevant associates other than:

(i) the distribution business; and

(ii) any other business activity to which the Authority has given its consent in writing in accordance with paragraph 3(d).

(b) The licensee or a relevant associate may carry on de-minimis business provided that the relevant associate carries on no other business except activities of the distribution business and business activities authorised by the Authority under paragraph 3(d), and neither of the following limitations is exceeded, namely:

(i) the aggregate turnover of all the de-minimis business carried on by the licensee and all its relevant associates does not in any period of twelve months commencing on 1 April of any year exceed 2½% of the aggregate turnover of the distribution business as shown by the most recent audited accounting statements of the licensee produced under paragraphs 2(b)(i) and (c) of standard condition 42 (Regulatory Accounts); and

(ii) the aggregate amount (determined in accordance with sub-paragraph (d) below) of all investments made by the licensee and all its relevant associates in their de-minimis business or de-minimis businesses does not at any time after the date this condition takes effect in this licence exceed 2½% of the sum of share capital in issue, share premium and consolidated reserves of the licensee as shown by its most recent audited historical cost financial statements then available.

(c) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph, “investment” means any form of financial support or assistance given by or on behalf of the licensee or a relevant associate for the de-minimis business whether on a temporary or permanent basis including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) any commitment to provide any such support or assistance in the future.

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(d) At any relevant time, the amount of an investment shall be the sum of:

(i) the value at which such investment was included in the audited historical cost balance sheet of the licensee or a relevant associate as at its latest accounting reference date to have occurred prior to the date this condition takes effect in this licence (or, where the investment was not so included, zero);

(ii) the aggregate gross amount of all expenditure (whether of a capital or revenue nature) howsoever incurred by the licensee or a relevant associate in respect of such investment in all completed accounting reference periods since such accounting reference date; and

(iii) all commitments and liabilities (whether actual or contingent) of the licensee or a relevant associate relating to such investment outstanding at the end of the most recently completed accounting reference period.

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Condition 44. Availability of Resources

1. The licensee shall at all times act in a manner calculated to secure that it has available to it all such resources, including (without limitation) management and financial resources, personnel, fixed and moveable assets, rights, licences, consents and facilities on such terms and with all such rights as shall ensure that it is at all times able:

(a) to properly and efficiently to carry on the distribution business; and

(b) to comply in all respects with its obligations under this licence and such obligations under the Act as apply to the distribution business including, without limitation, its duty to develop and maintain an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system of electricity distribution.

2. The licensee shall submit a certificate to the Authority, approved by a resolution of the board of directors of the licensee and signed by a director of the licensee pursuant to that resolution. Such certificate shall be submitted in June of each year. Each certificate shall be in one of the following forms:

(a) “After making enquiries, the directors of the licensee have a reasonable expectation that the licensee will have available to it, after taking into account in particular (but without limitation) any dividend or other distribution which might reasonably be expected to be declared or paid, sufficient financial resources and financial facilities to enable the licensee to carry on the distribution business for a period of 12 months from the date of this certificate.”

(b) “After making enquiries, the director of the licensee have a reasonable expectation, subject to what is said below, that the licensee will have available to it, after taking into account in particular (but without limitation) any dividend or other distribution which might reasonably be expected to be declared or paid, sufficient financial resources and financial facilities to enable the licensee to carry on the distribution business for a period of 12 months from the date of this certificate. However, they would like to draw attention to the following factors which may cast doubt on the ability of the licensee to carry on the distribution business.”

(c) “In the opinion of the directors of the licensee, the licensee will not have available to it sufficient financial resources and financial facilities to enable the licensee to carry on the distribution business for a period of 12 months from the date of this certificate.”

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3. The licensee shall submit to the Authority with that certificate a statement of the main factors which the directors of the licensee have taken into account in giving that certificate.

4. The licensee shall inform the Authority in writing immediately if the directors of the licensee become aware of any circumstance which causes them no longer to have the reasonable expectation expressed in the then most recent certificate given under paragraph 2.

5. The licensee shall use its best endeavours to obtain and submit to the Authority with each certificate provided for in paragraph 2 a report prepared by its auditors and addressed to the Authority stating whether or not the auditors are aware of any inconsistencies between, on the one hand, that certificate and the statement submitted with it and, on the other hand, any information which they obtained during their audit work.

6. The directors of the licensee shall not declare or recommend a dividend, nor shall the licensee make any other form of distribution within the meaning of section 263 of the Companies Act 1985, unless prior to the declaration, recommendation or making of the distribution (as the case may be) the licensee shall have issued to the Authority a certificate complying with the following requirements of this paragraph.

(a) The certificate shall be in the following form:

“After making enquiries, the directors of the licensee are satisfied:

(i) that the licensee is in compliance in all material respects with all obligations imposed on it by standard condition 24 (Provision of Information to the Authority), standard condition 43 (Restriction on Activity and Financial Ring-fencing), standard condition 44 (Availability of Resources), standard condition 45 (Undertaking from Ultimate Controller), standard condition 46 (Credit Rating) and paragraph 1 of standard condition 47 ( Indebtedness) of the licence; and

(ii) that the making of a distribution of [    ] on [    ] will not, either alone or when taken together with other circumstances reasonably foreseeable at the date of this certificate, cause the licensee to be in breach to a material extent of any of these obligations in the future.

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(b) The certificate shall be signed by a director of the licensee and approved by a resolution of the board of directors of the licensee passed not more than 14 days before the date on which the declaration, recommendation or payment will be made.

(c) Where the certificate has been issued in respect of the declaration or recommendation of a dividend, the licensee shall be under no obligation to issue a further certificate prior to payment of that dividend provided such payment is made within six months of that certificate.

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Condition 45. Undertaking from Ultimate Controller

1. The licensee shall procure from each company or other person which the licensee knows or reasonably should know is at any time an ultimate controller of the licensee a legally enforceable undertaking in favour of the licensee in the form specified by the Authority that that ultimate controller (“the covenantor”) will refrain from any action, and will procure that any person (including, without limitation, a corporate body) which is a subsidiary of, or is controlled by, the covenantor (other than the licensee and its subsidiaries) will refrain from any action, which would then be likely to cause the licensee to breach any of its obligations under the Act or this licence. Such undertaking shall be obtained within 7 days of the company or other person in question becoming an ultimate controller and shall remain in force for as long as the licensee remains the holder of this licence and the covenantor remains an ultimate controller of the licensee.

2. The licensee shall:

(a) deliver to the Authority evidence (including a copy of each such undertaking) that the licensee has complied with its obligation to procure undertakings pursuant to paragraph 1;

(b) inform the Authority immediately in writing if the directors of the licensee become aware that any such undertaking has ceased to be legally enforceable or that its terms have been breached; and

(c) comply with any direction from the Authority to enforce any such undertaking;

and shall not, save with the consent in writing of the Authority, enter (directly or indirectly) into any agreement or arrangement with any ultimate controller of the licensee or of any of the subsidiaries of any such corporate ultimate controller (other than the subsidiaries of the licensee) at a time when,

(i) an undertaking complying with paragraph 1 is not in place in relation to that ultimate controller; or

(ii) there is an unremedied breach of such undertaking; or

(iii) the licensee is in breach of the terms of any direction issued by the Authority under paragraph 2 of this condition.

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Condition 46. Credit Rating of Licensee

1. The licensee shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the licensee maintains at all times an investment grade issuer credit rating.

2. In this condition:

“investment grade issuer credit rating” means:

(a) an issuer rating of not less than BBB- by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any of its subsidiaries or a corporate rating of not less than Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or such higher rating as shall be specified by either of them from time to time as the lowest investment grade credit rating, or

(b) an equivalent rating from any other reputable credit rating agency which, in the opinion of the Authority, notified in writing to the licensee, has comparable standing in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

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Condition 47. Indebtedness

1. In addition to the requirements of standard condition 29 (Disposal of Relevant Assets), the licensee shall not without the prior written consent of the Authority³ (following the disclosure by the licensee of all material facts):

(a) create or continue or permit to remain in effect any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other form of security or encumbrance whatsoever, undertake any indebtedness to any other person or enter into any guarantee or any obligation otherwise than:

(i) on an arm’s length basis;

(ii) on normal commercial terms;

(iii) for a permitted purpose; and

(iv) (if the transaction is within the ambit of standard condition 29 (Disposal of Relevant Assets)) in accordance with that condition;

(b) transfer, lease, license or lend any sum or sums, asset, right or benefit to any affiliate or related undertaking of the licensee otherwise than by way of:

(i) a dividend or other distribution out of distributable reserves;

(ii) repayment of capital;

(iii) payment properly due for any goods, services or assets provided on an arm’s length basis and on normal commercial terms;

(iv) a transfer, lease, licence or loan of any sum or sums, asset, right or benefit on an arm’s length basis, on normal commercial terms and made in compliance with the payment condition;

(v) repayment of or payment of interest on a loan not prohibited by sub-paragraph (a);

³ Consent issued under Standard Condition 47 of this licence

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(vi) payments for group corporation tax relief or for the surrender of Advance Corporation Tax calculated on a basis not exceeding the value of the benefit received ; or

(vii) an acquisition of shares or other investments in conformity with paragraph 2 of standard condition 43 (Restriction on Activity and Financial Ring Fencing) made on an arm’s length basis and on normal commercial terms;

(c) enter into an agreement or incur a commitment incorporating a cross-default obligation; or

(d) continue or permit to remain in effect any agreement or commitment incorporating a cross-default obligation subsisting at the date this condition takes effect in this licence, save that the licensee may permit any cross-default obligation in existence at that date to remain in effect for a period not exceeding twelve months from that date, provided that the cross-default obligation is solely referable to an instrument relating to the provision of a loan or other financial facilities granted prior to that date and the terms on which those facilities have been made available as subsisting on that date are not varied or otherwise made more onerous.

(e) the provisions of sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) of this paragraph shall not prevent the licensee from giving any guarantee permitted by and compliant with the requirements of sub-paragraph (a).

(f) The payment condition referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(iv) is that the consideration due in respect of the transaction in question is paid in full when the transaction is entered into unless either:

(i) the counter-party to the transaction has and maintains until payment is made in full an investment grade issuer credit rating, or

(ii) the obligations of the counter-party to the transaction are fully and unconditionally guaranteed throughout the period during which any part of the consideration remains outstanding by a guarantor which has and maintains an investment grade issuer credit rating.

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2. In this condition:

“cross-default obligation”	means a term of any agreement or arrangement whereby the licensee’s liability to pay or repay any debt or other sum arises or is increased or accelerated or is capable of arising, increasing or of acceleration by reason of a default (howsoever such default may be described or defined) by any person other than the licensee, unless:
	(i)     that liability can arise only as the result of a default by a subsidiary of the licensee,
	(ii)    the licensee holds a majority of the voting rights in that subsidiary and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of its board of directors, and
	(iii)    that subsidiary carries on business only for a purpose within paragraph (a) of the definition of permitted purpose.
“indebtedness”	means all liabilities now or hereafter due, owing or incurred, whether actual or contingent, whether solely or jointly with any other person and whether as principal or surety, together with any interest accruing thereon and all costs, charges, penalties and expenses incurred in connection therewith.

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Condition 48. Last Resort Supply: Payment Claims

1. This condition sets out the circumstances in which the licensee shall increase its use of system charges in order to compensate any electricity supplier (a “claimant”) which claims for losses that it has incurred in complying with a last resort supply direction.

2. The following provisions apply where the licensee receives from a claimant a valid claim for a last resort supply payment.

3. Where the licensee receives a valid claim it shall, during the relevant year, make a consequential increase to its use of system charges in respect of that year which relate to the distribution of electricity to premises to such an extent as it reasonably estimates to be appropriate to secure that such consequential increase in its revenue equals the specified amount.

4. The licensee shall, during, or as soon as practicable after the end of, the relevant year, pay to the claimant, by quarterly or monthly instalments (as specified in the claim), the amount of that consequential increase in revenue mentioned in paragraph 3 to the extent that it does not exceed the specified amount.

5. If the amount paid to the claimant under paragraph 4 is less than the specified amount, the licensee shall in the following year –

(a) pay to the claimant (in accordance with any directions given by the Authority) the shortfall together with 12 months’ interest thereon; and

(b) increase the charges which relate to the distribution of electricity to premises during the year following the relevant year to such extent as it reasonably estimates to be appropriate to secure that the consequential increase in its revenue equals the amount of that shortfall together with 12 months’ interest thereon.

6. If the amount of the consequential increase mentioned in paragraph 3 exceeds the specified amount, the licensee shall, during the year following the relevant year,

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decrease the charges which relate to the distribution of electricity to premises to the extent that it reasonably estimates to be necessary in order to reduce its use of system revenue for that year by an amount equal to the excess together with 12 months’ interest thereon.

7. Any question whether any estimate for the purposes of paragraph 3, 5 or 6 is a reasonable one shall be determined by the Authority.

8. The licensee shall not enter into any use of system agreement with an electricity supplier which does not permit variation of its use of system charges in pursuance of this condition.

9. The provisions of this condition shall have effect notwithstanding that the licensee has not provided the notice required by paragraph 13 of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency).

10. In calculating the licensee’s use of system revenue during any period for the purposes of a price control condition any increase or decrease in revenue attributable to the licensee’s compliance with this condition shall be treated as if it had not occurred.

11. The licensee shall prepare, in respect of each year in which it increases or decreases charges in pursuance of paragraph 3, 5 or 6, a statement showing -

(a) the aggregate amount of its revenue derived from increases in charges in pursuance of paragraph 3;

(b) the aggregate amount of its revenue derived from increases in charges in pursuance of paragraph 5;

(c) the aggregate amount of the decrease in its revenue resulting from decreases in charges in pursuance of paragraph 6; and

(d) in the case of each last resort supply payment, the aggregate payments to the claimant made in respect of the year in question (whenever those payments were made).

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12. The licensee shall give the statements referred to in paragraph 11 to the Authority within the first 4 months of the year following that to which they relate.

13. On giving the statement mentioned in paragraph 11(d) to the Authority, the licensee shall publish it in such manner as, in the reasonable opinion of the licensee, will secure adequate publicity for it.

14. Where the licensee receives more than one claim for a last resort payment, this condition (other than sub-paragraphs 11(a), (b) and (c)) shall apply separately as respects each separate claim but in so far as it results in changes to the licensee’s use of system charges it shall have the cumulative effect of such separate applications.

15. (a)     For the purposes of this condition –

“last resort supply direction” and “last resort supply payment” have, respectively the meanings given to them in standard conditions 29 (Supplier of Last Resort) and 29A (Supplier of Last Resort Supply Payments) of the standard conditions of the electricity supply licence;

“price control condition” means any condition of the licence which places a monetary limitation on the use of system charges which may be levied or the use of system revenue which may be recovered by the licensee during a given period;

“relevant year” means, in relation to any valid claim -

(a) where the claim was received by the licensee at least 60 days before the beginning of a year, that year; or

(b) where the claim was received by the licensee less than 60 days before the beginning of a year, the next year;

“specified amount” means the amount specified on a valid claim together with interest calculated in accordance with sub-paragraph (b);

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“valid claim” means a claim for which a claimant has been give a consent by the Authority pursuant to standard condition 29A (Supplier of Last Resort Supply Payments) of the standard conditions of the electricity supply licence; and

“year” means a period of 12 months beginning with 1^st April.

(b) The interest referred to in sub-paragraph (a) is simple interest for the period commencing with the date on which the valid claim was received by the licensee and ending with the date which is 61 days before the start of the relevant year, except where that period is of 30 days or less, in which case no interest shall be payable.

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Condition 49. Incentive Scheme and Associated Information

1. The principal purpose of this condition is to secure the collection of information on a common basis, and to an appropriate degree of accuracy, by each distribution services provider so as:

(a) to facilitate the establishment and operation of an incentive scheme (“the scheme”) to improve the operation and delivery of appropriate outputs of the licensee; and

(b) to monitor any perverse incentives arising from the collection and publication of such information and from the operation of the scheme and the charge restriction conditions.

2. The licensee shall establish appropriate systems, processes and procedures to measure and record specified information from the dates specified in paragraph 4 and in accordance with Regulatory Instructions and Guidance (including any associated information specified therein).

3. For the purposes of this condition:

“charge restriction conditions” shall have the same meaning as in special condition A (Definitions) for licensed distributors in England and Wales or special condition B for licensed distributors in Scotland;

“charging review date” means the date from which modifications to the charge restriction conditions relating to all distribution services providers have effect:

(a) whether before or after the date upon which the modifications are made;

(b) whether or not the same modifications are made in respect of each distribution services provider; and

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(c) where such modifications have been proposed by the Authority following a review by the Authority of the charge restriction conditions (or that part to which the modifications relate) in relation to all distribution services providers;

“Regulatory Instructions and Guidance” means any instructions and guidance issued by the Authority for the purposes of this condition as modified from time to time by notice under paragraph 9 and may include:

(a) instructions and guidance as to the establishment of different systems, processes, procedures and manners for providing and recording information and of standards for different classes of information;

(b) a timetable for the development of the systems, processes and procedures required to achieve the appropriate standards of accuracy and reliability with which specified information shall be recorded;

(c) the meaning of words and phrases used in defining specified information;

(d) requirements for the recording of information associated with specified information which are reasonably necessary to enable an examiner to determine the accuracy and reliability of specified information;

(e) requirements as to the form and manner in which specified information shall be provided to the Authority;

(f) requirements as to the manner in which specified information shall be recorded and as to the standards of accuracy and reliability with which it shall be recorded; and

(g) a statement as to whether and to what extent each category of specified information is required for the purposes of the scheme;

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“specified information” means:

(a) the number of interruptions in the supply of electricity through the licensee’s distribution system which occur in each period of 12 months commencing on 1 April in each calendar year and have a duration of –

(i) less than three minutes, together (in respect of each interruption) with the number of customers whose supply was interrupted and the cause of that interruption; and

(ii) three minutes or more, together (in respect of each interruption) with –

(aa) the number of customers whose supply of electricity was interrupted and the duration of the interruption;

(bb) the source, voltage level and HV circuit; and

(cc) the aggregate number of re-interruptions;

(b) in relation to telephone calls made to the enquiry service operated under paragraph 1 of standard condition 6 (Safety and Security of Supplies Enquiry Service) –

(i) the speed of response for answering each call; and

(ii) in the case of each call answered by a human operator -

(aa) the telephone number of the caller;

(bb) the time of the call; and

(cc) if known, the name of the caller and whether the caller is or is not a domestic customer;

(c) (i)        the aggregate number and cause of faults occurring in specified classes or types of electrical plant or electric lines:

(ii) a statement setting out the asset management strategy of the licensee in respect of the licensee’s distribution system; and

(iii) a statement of the reasons for any material increase or decrease in the number and cause of faults referred to in sub-paragraph (i) having regard to equivalent data held in respect of previous years; and

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(d) such other information as may from time to time be specified by the Authority, by notice to the licensee in accordance with paragraph 9.

4. The licensee shall collect specified information in respect of:

(a) the matters specified in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of the definition of specified information from and including 1 April 2001; and

(b) any matter specified under sub-paragraph (d) of that definition from the date specified in a notice given in accordance with paragraph 9.

5. The licensee shall provide to the Authority:

(a) the information referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(ii) of the definition of specified information for each week within 4 days of the end of that week;

(b) the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (a),(b)(i) and (c) of that definition on or before 31 May 2002 and 30 April in each succeeding year (or such later date as the Authority may by notice specify) in respect of the period of 12 months expiring on the preceding 31 March; and

(c) the information referred to in sub-paragraph (d) of that definition in respect of such period and by such date as shall be specified in the relevant notice given under that sub-paragraph.

6. The licensee shall permit a person or persons nominated by the Authority (in each case “an examiner”) to examine the systems, processes and procedures referred to in paragraph 2 and their operation, the specified information and the extent to which each complies, and is in accordance, with Regulatory Instructions and Guidance.

7. The licensee shall (and shall procure, insofar as it is able to do so, that any affiliate of the licensee, any person by whom it procures the performance of the obligation in paragraph 2 and any auditor of such person or of the licensee shall) co-operate fully with an examiner so as to enable him to carry out, complete and report to the Authority on any examination carried out in accordance with paragraph 6.

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8. The licensee’s obligation under paragraph 7 to co-operate or procure co-operation with an examiner shall include, without limitation and insofar as necessary or expedient for such purpose, in each case subject to reasonable prior notice to the licensee:

(a) providing access to management, employees, agents or independent contractors of the licensee sufficient to enable the examiner to make any enquiries and to discuss any matters which he reasonably considers to be relevant to the carrying out of the examination;

(b) giving to the examiner access at reasonable hours to any premises occupied by the licensee or any other person in performing the obligations set out in this condition; and

(c) allowing the examiner at reasonable hours:

(i) to inspect and make copies of, and take extracts from, any documents and records of the licensee maintained in relation to specified information (other than information which is subject to legal privilege);

(ii) to carry out inspections, measurements and tests on or in relation to any systems maintained and operated for or in relation to the requirements of this condition; and

(iii) to take onto such premises or onto or into any assets used for the purpose of the licensee such other persons and such equipment as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of carrying out the examination.

9. A notice published by the Authority which adds to the categories of specified information or which modifies Regulatory Instructions and Guidance (in each case, an “amendment”) shall have effect where the Authority has:

(a) given prior notice to all distribution services providers:

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(i) stating that it proposes to make the amendment and setting out its effect, the date it is proposed it should take effect and (where relevant) whether the additional category of specified information is required for the purposes of the scheme;

(ii) stating the reasons why it proposes to make the amendment; and

(iii) specifying the time (not being less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations or objections with respect to the proposed amendment may be made; and

(b) considered any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.

10. A notice under paragraph 9 may not, where the amendment relates to a requirement in Regulatory Instructions and Guidance to provide any specified information to a greater level of accuracy or the introduction of an additional category of specified information which is or is intended to be required for the purposes of the scheme, specify a date for the purpose of paragraph 9(a)(i) other than a charging review date nor be given less than 12 months prior to that date unless all distribution services providers have agreed an alternative date or period of notice.

11. The reasons for proposing an amendment which relates to any change in Regulatory Instructions and Guidance (other than that referred to in paragraph 10) in respect of specified information which is or is intended to be required for the purposes of the scheme may have regard in particular to the desirability of:

(i) removing or reducing inconsistencies between distribution services providers in the application of the Regulatory Instructions and Guidance or its interpretation;

(ii) improving the presentation or style of the Regulatory Instructions and Guidance or of the form and manner in which the specified information is to be provided;

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(iii) summarising the terms of reference and instructions from time to time given to an examiner; or

(iv) setting out any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (f) of the definition of Regulatory Instructions and Guidance in respect of any additional category of specified information

so as more effectively to achieve the purposes of this condition.

Department of Trade and Industry

September 2001

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SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND SCHEDULES

PART IV. SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Special Condition A: Definitions

1. This Condition and Special Conditions B to F and Schedule A only apply to the distribution services area (as defined in standard condition 1 (Definitions and Interpretation)) of the licensee.

2. Unless the context otherwise requires words and expressions used in the standard conditions of this licence shall bear the same meaning in these Special Conditions.

3. In this Condition and in Special Conditions B to F and Schedule A:

“attributed”	means when used in relation to transmission connection point charges or remote transmission asset rentals or distribution losses, attributed in accordance with the principles set out in Part A of Schedule A and attribute, attributed, attributable and attribution shall be construed accordingly.
“average charge per unit distributed”	means the distribution revenue in the relevant year divided by the regulated quantity distributed in that year.
“average specified rate”	means the average of the daily base rates of Barclays Bank plc current from time to time during the period in respect of which the calculation falls to be made.
“charge restriction conditions”	means Special Conditions A to F inclusive together with Schedule A to this licence, as from time to time modified or replaced in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

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“distribution losses”	means units unaccounted for on the licensee’s distribution system, measured as being the difference between the units metered on entry into the system and the units metered on leaving the system.
“distribution revenue”	means the revenue (measured on an accruals basis) derived by the licensee from the provision of distribution services in the relevant year, after deduction of:
	(i)	an amount equal to such part of the total amount payable in that relevant year to the transmission company (measured on an accruals basis) in respect of transmission connection point charges and remote transmission asset rentals and which would otherwise be included in distribution revenue by reason of being recovered in that relevant year by the licensee in its use of system charges, as falls to be attributed to the regulated quantity distributed in that relevant year; and
	(ii)	value added tax (if any) and any other taxes based directly on the amounts so derived.
“distribution services”	means all services provided by the licensee as part of its distribution business other than excluded services.
“EHV premises”	means those premises to which units are delivered by the licensee which fall to be treated as EHV premises in accordance with Part B of Schedule A.

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“EHV units”	means units distributed by the licensee which are delivered or deemed to be delivered to EHV premises.
“eleventh relevant year”	means the relevant year commencing 1st April 2000.
“excluded services”	means those services provided by the licensee which in accordance with the principles set out in Part C of Schedule A fall to be treated as excluded services.
“HV units”	means units (other than EHV units) distributed by the licensee which are delivered to premises connected to the licensee’s distribution system at a voltage at or higher than 1000 volts.
“LV units”	means units distributed by the licensee which are delivered to premises connected to the licensee’s distribution system at a voltage less than 1000 volts.
“LV1 units”	means LV units which are distributed by the licensee outside night-time periods to domestic premises or small premises (other than domestic premises) where the appropriate use of system charges apply different rates in night-time periods as opposed to other times of day, for the avoidance of doubt including the use of system charges under the tariffs specified in paragraph D2 of Part D of Schedule A.
“LV2 units”	means LV units which are distributed by the licensee to domestic premises or small premises (other than domestic premises):

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	(a)	During night-time periods, where the appropriate use of system charges apply different rates in night-time periods as opposed to other times of the day; or
	(b)	Where the appropriate use of system charges are incorporated into tariffs which restrict availability of supply to specified off-peak periods,
	for the avoidance of doubt including the use of system charges under the tariffs specified in paragraph D3 of Part D of Schedule A.
“LV3 units”	means LV units other than LV1 and LV2 units, for the avoidance of doubt including units distributed under the tariffs specified in paragraph D4 of Part D of Schedule A.
“maximum average charge per unit distributed”	means the charge calculated in accordance with the formula in paragraph 1 of Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges).
“metered”	means, in relation to any quantity distributed as measured by a meter installed for such purpose or (where no such meter is installed or it is not reasonably practicable to measure the quantity by such meter) as otherwise reasonably calculated.
“regulated distribution unit category”	means as the case may be HV units or LV1 units or LV2 units or LV3 units.

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“regulated quantity distributed”	means the aggregate quantity of units distributed (for any person under use of system) by the licensee through the licensee’s distribution system in relevant year t metered at exit points on leaving the licensee’s distribution system but excluding for this purpose:
	(a)	Units distributed for the purpose of supply to premises outside the licensee’s distribution services area; and
	(b)	EHV units.
“relevant year”	means a financial year commencing on or after 1st April 1990.
“relevant year t”	means that relevant year for the purposes of which any calculation falls to be made.
“relevant year t-1”	means the relevant year preceding relevant year t or, in respect of the period prior to 1st April 1990. the period of 12 calendar months commencing on 1st April 1989: and similar expressions shall be construed accordingly.
“remote transmission asset rental”	means any rent or other periodic payment payable by the distribution business of the licensee to the transmission company in respect of remote transmission assets forming part of the licensee’s distribution system.
“transmission connection point charges”	means charges levied by the transmission company as connection charges by direct reference to the number or nature of the connections between the licensee’s distribution system and the transmission system and payable by the distribution business of the licensee.
“unit”	means a kilowatt hour.

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4. Any reference in these Special Conditions to -

(a) a provision thereof;

(b) a provision of the standard conditions of electricity distribution licences;

(c) a provision of the standard conditions of electricity supply licences;

(d) a provision of the standard conditions of electricity generation licences;

(e) a provision of the standard conditions of electricity transmission licences;

shall, if these or the standard conditions in question come to be modified, be construed, so far as the context permits, as a reference to the corresponding provision of these or the standard conditions in question as modified.

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Special Condition B: Restriction of distribution charges

Basic Formula

1. Without prejudice to Special Condition E (Allowances in respect of Security costs), the licensee shall in setting its charges for the provision of distribution services use its best endeavours to ensure that in any relevant year the average charge per unit distributed shall not exceed the maximum average charge per unit distributed calculated in accordance with the following formula:

M_dt = P_dt + PN_dt +LF_dt +Q_dt + Z_dt – PM_dt - K_dt

2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, M_dt means the maximum average charge per unit distributed in relevant year t.

2A. For the purposes of paragraph 1:

Qdt	in the relevant year commencing on 1 April 2005 is as defined in paragraph 2 of special licence condition G (Incentive scheme: calculation of charge restriction adjustment), and in each other relevant year is zero.
Zdt	in the relevant year commencing on 1 April 2005 is as defined in paragraph 3 of special licence condition G, and in each other relevant year is zero.”

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Formula for P_dt as used in paragraph 1

3. For the purposes of paragraph 1, P_dt is derived from the following formula:

	where:
PUM	means the amount set against that term in the part of Annexe A to this Condition that applies to the licensee.
GRt	in the eleventh relevant year has the value of 1 and in each subsequent relevant year is derived from the following formula:
	Where
S	means the summation across all regulated distribution unit categories i as described in the definition of the term Poi.
Poi	means, in respect of each regulated distribution unit category i set out in column 1 under that term in the part of Annexe A to this Condition which applies to the licensee, the value opposite that category in column 2.
Dit	means that number of units in each regulated distribution unit category i distributed in relevant year t.
Dit-1	means that number of units in each regulated distribution unit category i distributed in relevant year t-l.
Cdt	means a notional figure, representing the number of customers in the licensee’s distribution services area (for the purpose of this term Cd, only) for each relevant year, given in the table appearing under that term in the part of Annexe A to this Condition that applies to the licensee.

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Cdt-1	means the number equal to Cdt, in relevant year t-1.
PIDt	in the eleventh relevant year has the value of 1 and in each subsequent relevant year is derived from the following formula:
	Where
RPIt	means the percentage change (whether of a positive or a negative value) in the arithmetic average of the Retail Price Index numbers published or determined with respect to each of the six months July to December (inclusive) in relevant year t-1 and the arithmetic average of the Retail Price Index numbers published or determined with respect to the same months in relevant year t-2.
Xdt	shall equal 3.
PL	means an amount equal to 2.9p.
ALt	means an amount (in units) representing allowed distribution losses in relevant year t, being the allowed percentage of the adjusted units distributed (calculated as provided in paragraph E5 of Part E of Schedule A) where, in respect of each relevant year t, the allowed percentage shall equal that percentage which the aggregate of adjusted distribution losses (calculated as provided in paragraphs E2 to E5 of Part E of Schedule A) over the 10 preceding relevant years bears to the aggregate of adjusted units distributed (calculated as aforesaid) over the corresponding relevant years.

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Lt	means in respect of relevant year t, adjusted grid supply point purchases less adjusted units distributed (calculated as provided in paragraphs E2 to E5 of Part E of Schedule A).
PILt	is derived from the following formula:
	where, for the eleventh relevant year, PILt-1 equals 1.
Dt	means the regulated quantity distributed in relevant year t.

Formula for PN_dt as used in paragraph 1

4. For the purposes of paragraph 1, in the eleventh and subsequent relevant years the term PN_dt shall be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

where:
PS	means an amount equal to £3.25 million for each of the eleventh to the fifteenth relevant years, and thereafter shall be 0.
PR	means, in the eleventh and all subsequent relevant years, the amount given against the licensee’s name in Annexe B to this Condition.

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PIRt	is derived from the following formula:
	where for the ninth relevant year PIRt-1 equals 1

Formula for PM_dt as used in paragraph 1

5. For the purposes of paragraph 1, PM_dt is derived from the following formula:

where:

RMdt

means an amount equal to the licensee’s relevant reduction in costs in relevant year t, resulting from the fact that the licensee has ceased to provide meter provision services and meter operation services (as defined in paragraph 1 of standard condition 36B (Requirement to Offer Terms for the Provision of Distributor Metering and Data Services)) in respect of customers in respect of whom it provided meter provision services and meter operation services at 31 March 2000. The licensee’s relevant reduction in costs shall be calculated in real terms, and shall be the amount, if any, by which the licensee’s cash operating costs (excluding costs of a non-recurring nature) of providing such services in the relevant year t fall short of its cash operating costs (excluding costs of a non-recurring nature) of providing such services in the tenth relevant year, to the extent that such shortfall is

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attributable to the fact that the licensee has ceased, since 31 March 2000, to provide (whether directly or through an agent acting on its behalf) meter provision services and meter operation services in respect of such customers. The licensee’s relevant reduction in costs shall exclude the amount of any reduction in costs in providing any services which constitute excluded services.

Formula for K_dt as used in Paragraph 1

6. For the For the purpose of paragraph 1, K_dt shall mean the correction factor per unit (whether of a positive or negative value) derived, subject to paragraph 3 of Special Condition C (Restriction of distribution charges: adjustments), from the following formula: provided that the value of K_dt for the eleventh relevant year shall be the value of K_dt arising for that year from the application of the formula applicable under Licence Condition 3A of the Public Electricity Supply licence of the predecessor company in the form of that condition in force on 31 March 2000, but adjusted by adding the amount of TA_dt for the tenth relevant year, calculated by the application of the formula applicable under Licence Condition 3A of that Public Electricity Supply licence as then in force:

where:
Rdt-1	means the distribution revenue in relevant year t-1.
Dt-1	means the regulated quantity distributed in relevant year t-1.

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Mdt-1	means maximum average charge per unit distributed in relevant year t-1.
Iit	means that interest rate in relevant year t which is equal to, where Kdt (taking no account of Idt for this purpose) has a positive value, the average specified rate plus 4, or where Kdt (taking no account of Idt for this purpose) has a negative value, the average specified rate.
RAdt-1	in the eleventh relevant year has the value of 0 and in each subsequent relevant year is derived from the following formula:
	where:
	DAdt	means an amount given in the table appearing under that term in the part of Annex D to this Condition that applies to the licensee.
	PBdt	means the amount given in the table appearing under that term in the part of Annex D to this Condition that applies to the licensee.

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Formula for LF_dt as used in Paragraph 1

7. For the purposes of paragraph 1, for the tenth and preceding relevant years LF_dt shall be zero, and for any subsequent relevant year LF_dt is derived from the following formula:

where:
LPdt	means an amount equal to the payments made by the licensee, in the relevant year t, in accordance with its obligations set out in Standard Licence Condition 3 or in respect of the eleventh relevant year made by the predecessor company of the licence holder in respect of payments to the Director General of Electricity Supply under the licence condition entitled “Payment of fees” in the public electricity supply licence referred to in paragraph 6.
LAdt	is derived from the following formula:
	LAdt= PFt..PIFt
PFt	Means, in respect of each relevant year the amount given in the table appearing under that term in the part of Annex C to this Condition that applies to the licensee.
PIFt	is derived from the following formula:
	where for the ninth relevant year PIFt-1 equals 1.

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Annex A to Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges)

EASTERN ELECTRICITY Ltd

	£m
PUM	287.9

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	3249
1 April 2001	3281
1 April 2002	3314
1 April 2003	3347
1 April 2004	3381

every subsequent relevant year 3415

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	2.0009
LV2	0.3031
LV3	1.3431
HV	0.4584

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EAST MIDLANDS DISTRIBUTION plc

	£m
PUM	240.3

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	2376
1 April 2001	2400
1 April 2002	2424
1 April 2003	2448
1 April 2004	2472

every subsequent relevant year 2497

P_0i

Column 1 unit category I	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	1.6131
LV2	0.5557
LV3	1.5711
HV	0.6350

169

GPU POWER NETWORKS (UK) PLC

	£m
PUM	243.5

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	2303
1 April 2001	2326
1 April 2002	2349
1 April 2003	2373
1 April 2004	2397

every subsequent relevant year 2420

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	1.9729
LV2	0.3966
LV3	1.6108
HV	0.5992

170

LONDON POWER NETWORKS LIMITED

	£m
PUM	220.8

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	2072
1 April 2001	2093
1 April 2002	2114
1 April 2003	2135
1 April 2004	2156

every subsequent relevant year 2178

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	2.2073
LV2	0.4057
LV3	1.5912
HV	0.5932

171

MANWEB plc

	£m
PUM	158.0

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	1423
1 April 2001	1437
1 April 2002	1452
1 April 2003	1466
1 April 2004	1481

every subsequent relevant year 1496

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	2.1041
LV2	0.4323
LV3	1.7558
HV	0.5097

172

NORTHERN ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LIMITED

	£m
PUM	152.6

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	1500
1 April 2001	1515
1 April 2002	1530
1 April 2003	1545
1 April 2004	1561

every subsequent relevant year 1577

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	2.0911
LV2	0.3273
LV3	1.9284
HV	0.4723

173

NORWEB plc

	£m
PUM	208.9

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	2250
1 April 2001	2272
1 April 2002	2295
1 April 2003	2318
1 April 2004	2341

every subsequent relevant year 2365

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	2.1750
LV2	0.2821
LV3	1.6304
HV	0.5335

174

SEEBOARD POWER NETWORKS PLC

	£m
PUM	159.1

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	2153
1 April 2001	2175
1 April 2002	2196
1 April 2003	2218
1 April 2004	2240

every subsequent relevant year 2263

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	1.8735
LV2	0.3213
LV3	1.4098
HV	0.5892

175

SOUTHERN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION PLC

	£m
PUM	297.7

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	2728
1 April 2001	2755
1 April 2002	2783
1 April 2003	2811
1 April 2004	2839

every subsequent relevant year 2867

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	2.0600
LV2	0.3816
LV3	1.4815
HV	0.5560

176

WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC

	£m
PUM	125.6

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	998
1 April 2001	1008
1 April 2002	1018
1 April 2003	1028
1 April 2004	1039

every subsequent relevant year 1049

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	2.4442
LV2	0.3641
LV3	2.2009
HV	0.7272

177

WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC

	£m
PUM	171.0

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	1369
1 April 2001	1383
1 April 2002	1397
1 April 2003	1410
1 April 2004	1425

every subsequent relevant year 1439

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 Value (p)
LV1	2.3889
LV2	0.6679
LV3	1.8707
HV	0.5072

178

YORKSHIRE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION plc

	£m
PUM	215.4

C_dt for relevant year beginning on

	‘000s
1 April 2000	2129
1 April 2001	2150
1 April 2002	2172
1 April 2003	2194
1 April 2004	2215

every subsequent relevant year 2238

P_0i

Column 1 unit category i	Column 2 value (p)
LV1	1.9497
LV2	0.3271
LV3	1.6654
HV	0.5750

179

Annex B to Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges)

	PR £M
EASTERN ELECTRICITY LTD	2.97
EAST MIDLANDS DISTRIBUTION PLC	2.35
GPU POWER NETWORKS (UK) PLC	2.34
LONDON POWER NETWORKS LIMITED	2.14
MANWEB PLC	1.69
NORTHERN ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LIMITED	1.76
NORWEB PLC	2.28
SEEBOARD POWER NETWORKS PLC	2.15
SOUTHERN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION PLC	2.64
WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC	1.38
WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC	1.65
YORKSHIRE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC	2.19
SCOTTISH POWER DISTRIBUTION LTD	2.01
SCOTTISH HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION LTD	1.16

180

Annex C To Special Condition B (Restriction Of Distribution Charges)

EPN DISTRIBUTION LIMITED (FORMERLY EASTERN ELECTRICITY LIMITED)

PF_t

2000/01	£0.731 millions
2001/02	£0.731 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.731 millions

EAST MIDLANDS ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.532 millions
2001/02	£0.517 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.517 millions

LONDON POWER NETWORKS PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.461 millions
2001/02	£0.451 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.451 millions

181

SP MANWEB PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.423 millions
2001/02	£0.414 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.414 millions

GPU POWER NETWORKS (UK) PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.511 millions
2001/02	£0.492 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.492 millions

NORTHERN ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LIMITED

PF_t

2000/01	£0.317 millions
2001/02	£0.306 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.306 millions

182

UNITED UTILITIES ELECTRICITY PLC (FORMERLY NORWEB PLC)

PF_t

2000/01	£0.458 millions
2001/02	£0.438 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.438 millions

SEEBOARD POWER NETWORKS PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.423 millions
2001/02	£0.417 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.417 millions

SOUTHERN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.649 millions
2001/02	£0.649 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.649 millions

183

WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.252 millions
2001/02	£0.247 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.247 millions

WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.288 millions
2001/02	£0.279 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.279 millions

YORKSHIRE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC

PF_t

2000/01	£0.474 millions
2001/02	£0.458 millions
subsequent relevant years	£0.458 millions

184

Annex D To Special Condition B (Restriction Of Distribution Charges)

1. EPN DISTRIBUTION LIMITED (FORMERLY EASTERN ELECTRICITY LIMITED)

DA_dt

2000/01	0.8
Thereafter	0.0

PB_dt

2000/01	£1.474 million
Thereafter	0

2. EAST MIDLANDS ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC

DA_dt

2000/01	0.8
Thereafter	0.0

PB_dt

2000/01	£1.987 million
Thereafter	0

185

2.1 LONDON POWER NETWORKS LIMITED

DA_dt

2000/01	0.9
Thereafter	0.0

PB_dt

2000/01	£0.123 million
Thereafter	0

186

SP MANWEB PLC

DA_dt

2000/01	0.8
Thereafter	0.0

PB_dt

2000/01	£1.688 million
Thereafter	0

2.2 GPU POWER NETWORKS (UK) PLC

DA_dt

2000/01	0.8
Thereafter	0.0

PB_dt

2000/01	£2.705 million
Thereafter	0

187

2.3 NORTHERN ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LIMITED

DA_dt

2000/01	0.8
Thereafter	0.0

PB_dt

2000/01	£	0.998 million
Thereafter		0

188

Special Condition C: Restriction of distribution charges: adjustments

1. If, in respect of any relevant year, the average charge per unit distributed exceeds the maximum average charge per unit distributed by more than 3 per cent, the licensee shall furnish an explanation to the Authority and in the next following relevant year the licensee shall not effect any increase in charges unless it has demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the Authority that the average charge per unit distributed would not be likely to exceed the maximum charge per unit distributed in that next following relevant year.

2. If, in respect of any two successive relevant years, the sum of the amounts by which the average charge per unit distributed has exceeded the maximum average charge per unit distributed is more than 4 per cent, then in the next following relevant year the licensee shall, if required by the Authority, adjust its charges such that the average charge per unit distributed would not be likely, in the judgement of the Authority, to exceed the maximum average charge per unit in that next following relevant year.

3. If, in respect of two successive relevant years, the average charge per unit distributed is less than 90 per cent of the maximum average charge per unit distributed, the Authority. after consultation with the licensee, may direct that in calculating K_dt for the purposes of paragraph 6 of Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges) in respect of the next following relevant year, there shall be substituted for R_dt-1 in the formula at paragraph 6 of Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges) such figure as the Authority may specify being not less than R_dt-1 and not more than 0.90 (Dt-1.M_dt-1).

189

Special Condition D: Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions

1. Where the licensee is intending to make any change in charges for the provision of distribution services regulated under Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges) the licensee shall (unless otherwise agreed by the Authority) not later than the date of publication of such charges provide the Authority with:

(a) written forecast of the maximum average charge per unit distributed, together with its components, in respect of the relevant year t in which such a change is to take effect and in respect of the next following relevant year t+1; and

(b) a written estimate of the maximum average charge per unit distributed, together with its components, in respect of the relevant year t-1 immediately preceding the relevant year in which the change is to take effect unless a statement complying with paragraph 7 in respect of relevant year t-l has been furnished to the Authority before the publication of the proposed change.

2. [No longer used]

3. If within three months of the commencement of any relevant year t the licensee has not made any such change in charges as is referred to in paragraph 1, the licensee shall provide the Authority with a written forecast of the maximum average charge per unit distributed, together with its components, in respect of the relevant year t.

4. The Authority may issue directions providing that any forecast or estimate provided in accordance with paragraphs 1 or 3 shall be accompanied by such information as regards the assumptions underlying the forecast or estimate as may be necessary to enable the Authority to be satisfied that the forecast or estimate has been properly prepared on a consistent basis.

190

5. Not later than six weeks after the commencement of each relevant year t, the licensee shall send to the Authority a statement as to:

(a) whether or not the provisions of Special Condition C (Restriction of distribution charges: adjustments) are likely to be applicable in consequence of the average charge per unit distributed in the preceding relevant year t- 1 or the two preceding relevant years t-l and t-2; and

(b) its best estimate as to the relevant correction factor K_dt to be applied in calculating the maximum average charge per unit distributed in respect of the relevant year t.

6. [No longer used]

191

7. Not later than three months after the end of a relevant year the licensee shall send to the Authority a statement, in respect of that relevant year, showing the specified items referred to in paragraph 9.

8. The statement referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be:

(a) accompanied by a report from the Auditors that in their opinion (i) such statement fairly presents each of the specified items referred to in paragraph 9 in accordance with the requirements of the charge restriction conditions and (ii) the amounts shown in respect of each of those specified items are in accordance with the licensee’s accounting records which have been maintained in respect of the distribution business in accordance with standard condition 42 (Regulatory Accounts) of this licence; and

(b) certified by a director of the licensee on behalf of the licensee that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief having made all reasonable enquiries:

(i) there is no amount included in its calculations under Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges) and Schedule A which represents other than:

(aa) bona fide consideration for the provision of distribution services in the course of its distribution business; or

(bb) an amount permitted under the charge restriction conditions to be so included;

(ii) there is no amount included in its calculations of allowed security costs under Special Condition E (Allowances in respect of Security costs ) which represents other than an amount permitted under the charge restriction conditions to be so included;

(iii) no service has been treated as an excluded service which was not properly so treated and no amount included in the revenues in respect thereof represents other than bona fide consideration for the provision of the excluded service to which it relates;

(iv) all amounts which should properly be taken into account for the purposes of the charge restriction conditions have been taken into account.

192

9. The specified items to be contained in the statement referred to in paragraph 7 shall be the following:

(c) the regulated quantity distributed;

(d) the quantity distributed in each regulated distribution unit category;

(e) the average charge per unit distributed;

(f) the amount in respect of the Terms AL_t and L_t in paragraph 3 of Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges) calculated as therein provided:

(g) the value of the term TA_dt in respect of the tenth relevant year only, together with the value of each of its component parts, as detailed in paragraph 4 of Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges) in the form of the licence in force on 31 March 2000;

(h) the value of the term LF_dt together with the value of each of its component parts, as detailed in paragraph 7 of special condition B (Restriction of distribution charges);

(i) the information referred to at paragraph 8 of Special Condition E (Allowances in respect of Security costs );

(j) the statements and information referred to in paragraph A5, B2, C7, Dl and E10 of Schedule A.

10. Where the Authority issues directions in accordance with paragraph 9 of Special Condition E (Allowances in respect of Security costs ) or paragraphs A6, B3, C8, D5 or E11 of Schedule A then such directions shall not have effect from a date earlier than the commencement of the relevant year to which the statement last furnished to the Authority pursuant to paragraph 7 prior to the issue of the directions related, unless such statement (or the accompanying report or certificate under paragraph 8) or any statement, report or certificate in respect of an earlier relevant year was incorrect or was misleading in any material respect.

11. Where the Authority issues such directions as are referred to in the preceding paragraph the Authority may require the licensee to provide a revised statement in respect of such of the specified items as may be affected by the directions, and the licensee shall comply with such request.

193

Special Condition E: Allowances in respect of Security costs

1. At any time during a security period, the licensee may give notice in writing to the Authority suspending, with effect from the date of receipt of the notice by the Authority, application of such of the charge restriction conditions as may be specified in the notice for the unexpired term of the security period.

2. At any time during a security period, the Authority may (having regard to its duties under the Act or under the Utilities Act 2000) by means of directions:

(a) suspend or modify for the unexpired term of the security period the charge restriction conditions or any part or parts thereof; or

(b) introduce for the unexpired term of the security period new charge restriction conditions

in either case, so as to make such provision as in the opinion or estimation of the Authority is requisite or appropriate:

(i) to enable the licensee to recover by means of increased charges an amount estimated as being equal to the licensees allowed security costs during such period;

(ii) to ensure that such part of the amount referred to in sub-paragraph (i) above as is estimated as being equal to the allowed security costs incurred by the licensee as costs in its distribution business are recovered by means of appropriate equitable increases on the charges made by the licensee in its distribution business and the licensee shall comply with the terms of any directions so issued.

3. At any time following a security period, the Authority may (following such consultation with the licensee and others as the Authority may consider appropriate) issue directions suspending or modifying the charge restriction conditions or any part or parts thereof or replacing such directions as may have been made during the security period and introducing such new charge restriction conditions as in the opinion of the Authority are appropriate in all the circumstances (including at the Authority’s discretion an appropriate adjustment having regard to any profit gained or foregone by the licensee during the security period), and the licensee shall comply with any directions so issued.

194

4. At any time within three months after the issue of directions by the Authority under paragraph 3, the licensee may serve on the Authority a disapplication request in respect of such of the charge restriction conditions or any part or parts thereof as are specified in the request.

5. If within three months of the receipt by the Authority of the disapplication request referred to in paragraph 4, the Authority has either not agreed in writing to such disapplication request or has not made a reference to the Competition Commission under Section 12 of the Act relating to the modification of the charge restriction conditions, the licensee may deliver one months written notice to the Authority terminating the application of the charge restriction conditions (or any part or parts thereof) as were specified in the disapplication request.

6. Subject to paragraphs 7 and 9, the licensee shall in any relevant year be entitled to recover an aggregate amount equal to its allowed security costs in that year or (insofar as not previously recovered) any previous year, by means of appropriate equitable increases on the charges made by the licensee in its distribution business.

7. Paragraph 6 shall not apply in so far as such allowed security costs:

(a) were otherwise recovered by the licensee; or

(b) were taken into account by the Authority in setting charge restriction conditions by means of directions issued under paragraph 3 above.

8. The licensee shall following the end of each relevant year provide to the Authority, as being one of the specified items to be contained in the statement referred to at paragraph 7 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions), details in respect of that relevant year of:

(a) the amount of the licensee’s allowed security costs; and

195

(b) the aggregate amounts charged under paragraph 6 on account of the licensee’s allowed security costs; and

(c) the bases and calculations underlying the increases in charges made by the licensee in its distribution business under paragraph 6.

9. Where the Authority is satisfied that the licensee has recovered amounts in excess of the allowed security costs, the Authority may issue directions requiring the licensee to take such steps as may be specified to reimburse purchasers from the distribution business (as the case may be) for the excess amounts charged to them, and the licensee shall comply with any directions so issued provided that if the excess amounts relate to allowed security costs paid to any authorised electricity operator, the licensee shall not be obliged to make any such reimbursement unless and until it has recovered such costs from the relevant authorised electricity operator.

10. No amounts charged by the licensee under this Condition (whether or not subsequently required to be reimbursed) shall be taken into account for the purpose of applying the charge restriction provisions of Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges).

11. In this Condition:

“allowed security cost”

shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in the Fuel Security Code.

“security period”

means a period commencing on the date on which any direction issued by the Secretary of State under Section 34(4)(b) of the Act enters into effect and terminating on the date (being not earlier than the date such direction, as varied, is revoked or expires) as the Authority, after consultation with such persons (including without limitation, licence holders liable to be principally affected) as it shall consider appropriate, may with the consent of the Secretary of State by notice to all licence holders determine after having regard to the views of such persons.

196

Special Condition F: Duration of charge restriction conditions

1. The charge restriction conditions shall apply so long as this licence continues in force but shall cease to have effect (in whole or in part, as the case may be) if the licensee delivers to the Authority a disapplication request made in accordance with paragraph 2 and:

(a) the Authority agrees in writing to the disapplication request; or

(b) their application (in whole or in part) is terminated by notice given by the licensee in accordance with either paragraph 4 or paragraph 5.

2. A disapplication request pursuant to this Condition shall (a) be in writing addressed to the Authority, (b) specify the charge restriction conditions (or any part or parts thereof) to which the request relates and (c) state the date from which the licensee wishes the Authority to agree that the specified charge restriction conditions shall cease to have effect.

3. Save where the Authority otherwise agrees, no disapplication following delivery of a disapplication request pursuant to this Condition shall have effect earlier than that date which is the later of:

(a) a date being not less than 18 months after delivery of the disapplication request; and

(b) 31st March 2005.

4. If the Authority has not made a reference to the Competition Commission under Section 12 of the Act relating to the modification of the charge restriction conditions before the beginning of the period of 12 months which will end with the disapplication date, the licensee may deliver written notice to the Authority terminating the application of such of the charge restriction conditions (or any part or parts thereof) as are specified in the disapplication request with effect from the disapplication date or a later date.

197

5. If the Competition Commission makes a report on a reference made by the Authority relating to the modification of the charge restriction conditions (or any part or parts thereof) specified in the disapplication request and such report does not include a conclusion that the cessation of such charge restriction conditions, in whole or in part, operates or may be expected to operate against the public interest, the licensee may within 30 days after the publication of the report by the Authority in accordance with Section 13 of the Act deliver to the Authority written notice terminating the application of such charge restriction conditions with effect from the disapplication date or later.

6. A disapplication request or notice served under this Condition may be served in respect of a specified geographic area.

198

SCHEDULE A: SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF THE CHARGE RESTRICTION CONDITIONS

Part A. Principles for Attribution

General Principles

A1. Where for the purposes of the charge restriction conditions, a share of costs borne by the licensee requires to be attributed to any part of the market, the licensee shall make that attribution on a basis which ensures that no more than a fair proportion of those costs, reflecting the costs incurred by the licensee in supplying that part of the market, are so attributed.

A2. The following paragraphs of this Part of Schedule A are without prejudice to paragraph A1.

Transmission connection point charges and remote transmission asset rentals

A3. The transmission connection point charges and remote transmission asset rentals requiring to be attributed between the regulated quantity distributed and other quantities distributed shall be attributed in proportion to the transmission connection point and remote transmission asset capacity required for the purpose of distributing those quantities.

Distribution losses

A4. Where an amount (in units) in respect of distribution losses requires to be calculated and attributed in respect of EHV units and units distributed by the licensee for the purpose of supply to premises outside the licensee’s distribution services area, such calculation and attribution shall be made consistently with the principles underlying the schedule of adjustment factors referred to at sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency).

199

Information to be provided by licensee

A5. The licensee shall following the end of each relevant year furnish to the Authority, as being one of the specified items to be included in the statement referred to at paragraph 7 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions), a statement confirming that the calculation of the transmission connection point charges, the remote transmission asset rentals and of distribution losses was made in accordance with the provisions of this Part of Schedule A.

A6. Where the Authority is satisfied that the basis of calculation or attribution (as the case may be) used by the licensee is not in conformity with paragraph A1, the Authority may issue directions specifying an alternative basis of calculation or attribution, and the basis of calculation or attribution by the licensee (as the case may be) shall be adjusted accordingly with effect from the date of issue of the directions or (subject to paragraph 10 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions)) such other date as may be specified in those directions.

200

Part B. EHV premises

B1. EHV premises shall comprise:

(a) in relation to premises connected to the licensee’s distribution system as at the date this licence enters into force, those premises specified in the list of EHV premises notified in writing to the Authority by the licensee within twenty-eight days after this licence enters into force; and

(b) in relation to premises connected to the licensee’s distribution system which are either first connected or (having been previously connected) have had their connections materially altered following the date this licence enters into force, means premises connected to the licensee’s distribution system as a voltage at or higher than 22 kilovolts or at a sub-station with a primary voltage of 66 kilovolts or above

B2. The licensee shall following the end of each relevant year furnish to the Authority, as being one of the specified items to be included in the statement referred to at paragraph 7 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions), a statement listing any changes in the premises falling to be treated as EHV premises.

B3. Where the Authority is satisfied that any premises treated by the licensee as EHV premises should not in conformity with sub-paragraph B1(b) above be so treated, the Authority may issue directions to that effect, and such premises shall cease to be treated as EHV premises from the date of issue of the directions or (subject to paragraph 10 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions)) such other date as may be specified in those directions.

201

Part C. Excluded services

C1. There may be treated as excluded services provided by the licensee in its distribution business such services in respect of which charges are made which:

(a) do not fall within paragraph C2 of this Part; and

(b) may (subject to paragraph C8) be determined by the licensee as falling under one of the principles set out in paragraphs C3 to C6 of this Part.

C2. No service provided by the licensee as part of its distribution business shall be treated as an excluded service in so far as it consists of the provision of services remunerated under the use of system charges in accordance with paragraph 2 of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for use of System and Connection to System) including (without prejudice to the foregoing):

(i) (subject to paragraph C3 of this Part) the transport of electricity;

(ii) the carrying out of works for the installation of electric lines or electrical plant (not otherwise payable in the form of connection charges);

(iii) the carrying out of works or the provision of maintenance or repair or other services for the purpose of enabling the licensee to comply with standard conditions 5, 9, 9A and 15, the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 or any regulations made under Section 29 of the Act or any other enactment relating to safety or standards applicable in respect of the distribution business; and

(iv) (subject to paragraph C5 of this Part) the provision, installation and maintenance of any meters, switchgear or other electrical plant (not being part of connection charges).

C3. The licensee may treat as being an excluded service for the purposes of its distribution business the transport of:

(a) units of electricity not consumed in the licensee’s distribution services area

(b) EHV units, provided that the licensee’s charges for the distribution of such units do not exceed the charging rates underlying the information as to EHV revenue and EHV units distributed given by the licensee to the Authority and used by it

202

for the purposes of setting the term PUM in Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges), subject only to such adjustments as may be appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Authority to reflect material variations between the actual charges made and the charging rates underlying the information as to EHV revenue provided to the Authority by the licensee.

C4. Charges of the type described in paragraph 3 of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for use of System and Connection to System) and charges in respect of the statements referred to in paragraph 5 of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for use of System and Connection to System), may each be treated as excluded services for the purposes of the distribution business.

C5. A service provided by the licensee as part of its distribution business may be treated as an excluded service in so far as it consists in the provision of services (including metering, electric lines or electrical plant) for the specific benefit of any third party requesting the same and not made available by the licensee as a normal part of its distribution business remunerated by use of system charges including (without prejudice to the foregoing):

(i) special metering (including “time of day” metering) to facilitate energy saving programmes for the benefit of customers requesting the same;

(ii) charges for moving mains, services or meters forming part of the licensee’s distribution system to accommodate extension, re-design or re-development of any premises on which the same are located or to which they are connected;

(iii) the provision of electric lines and electrical plant (a) insofar as the same are required for the specific purpose of enabling the provision of top-up or standby supplies or sales of electricity or (b) to provide a higher degree of security than is required for the purposes of complying with standard condition 5 (Distribution System Planning Standard and Quality of Service);

(iv) the amount by which charges for the provision of prepayment meters to customers exceed charges for the provision of standard meters for such customers, in respect of which the amount receivable per customer shall not exceed that used by the Authority in formulating PUM in Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges); and

203

(v) special metering or telemetry or data processing equipment for the purposes of enabling any person which is a party to the Balancing and Settlement Code to comply with its obligations in respect of metering thereunder, or for the performance by the licensee of any service in relation thereto.

C6. There may be treated as an excluded service for the purposes of the distribution business, charges for the relocation of electric lines or electrical plant and the carrying out of works associated therewith pursuant to a statutory obligation (other than under Section 9(1) or Section 16 of the Act) imposed on the licensee.

Information to be provided to the Authority

C7. The licensee shall following the end of each relevant year furnish to the Authority, as being one of the specified items to be included in the statement referred to at paragraph 7 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions), details specifying separately the nature of all services provided as part of its distribution business and treated as excluded services by the licensee during the course of such year and stating the revenues derived by the licensee in respect of each such service so treated.

C8. Where the Authority is satisfied that in light of the principles set out in paragraphs C2 to C6 inclusive any service treated by the licensee as an excluded service should not be so treated, the Authority shall issue directions to that effect, and the service or services specified in the directions shall cease to be treated as excluded services from the date of issue of the directions or (subject to paragraph 10 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions)) such other date as may be specified in the directions.

204

Part D. Regulated distribution unit categories

D1. The licensee shall following the end of each relevant year furnish to the Authority, as being one of the specified items to be included in the statement referred to at paragraph 7 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions), details specifying separately those use of system charges in respect of which the licensee has during the course of such year treated the units distributed as falling within the definition of each of LV1 units and LV2 units and LV3 units respectively.

D2. The definition of LVI units includes units distributed under the following tariffs:

(a) Economy 7 (day) - domestic, quarterly

(b) White Meter (day) - domestic, quarterly

(c) 3E (day) - non-domestic, quarterly, Economy 7

(d) 4E (day) - non-domestic, quarterly tariff for customers supplied at LV from a sub-station

(e) M4 (day, evening and weekend) - non-domestic quarterly time of day tariff for customers supplied at LV from a sub-station

D3. The definition of LV2 units includes units distributed under the following tariffs:

(a) Economy 7 (night) - domestic, quarterly

(b) White Meter (night) - domestic, quarterly

(c) Off peak A)

(d) Off peak C)

(e) Off peak D) Restricted hours off-peak, quarterly

(f) Off peak E)

(g) Off peak S)

(h) 3E (night) - non-domestic, quarterly, Economy 7

(i) M3 (night) - non-domestic, quarterly, tariff for customers supplied at LV from a sub-station

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(j) M4 (night) - non-domestic, quarterly, time of day tariff for customers supplied at LV from a sub-station

D4. The definition of LV3 units includes units distributed under the following tariffs:

(a) Domestic ‘S’ - domestic, quarterly

(b) Public Lighting Misc. charges

(c) 3S, 3T

(d) 4S, 4T - non-domestic, quarterly

(e) 5N, 6N, 7N

(f) M6, M7

D5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs D2 to D4 above, where the Authority is satisfied that a tariff or tariffs in respect of which the licensee has treated the units distributed as falling within one of the categories in paragraphs D2 to D4 above should not be so treated, the Authority shall issue directions to that effect and the tariff or tariffs specified in the directions shall cease to be so treated from the date of issue of the directions or (subject to paragraph 10 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions)) such other date as may be specified in the directions and shall with effect from such date be treated in such manner as may be specified in the directions.

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Part E. Calculation of factor in respect of distribution losses

El. The terms AL_t and L_t which are used in paragraph 3 of Special Condition B (Restriction of distribution charges), shall each be determined, for relevant years commencing on or after the 1st April 1995, using the consistent methodological basis set out in paragraphs E2 to E5 below.

Consistent methodological basis for determination of AL_t and L_t

E2. Adjusted distribution losses shall be deemed to be the difference between adjusted grid supply point purchases and adjusted units distributed.

E3. Units metered on entry to the licensee’s distribution system shall be adjusted to obtain adjusted grid supply point purchases by:

(a) excluding that number of units which is equal to the sum of:

(i) EHV units; and

(ii) units distributed by the licensee for the purpose of supply to premises outside the licensee’s distribution services area; and

(iii) an amount in respect of distribution losses between the grid supply point and the exit point attributable to the units referred to in (i) and (ii) above, as determined in accordance with paragraph A4 in Part A of Schedule A; and

(b) including an amount (in units) to represent the effect of units entering the licensee’s distribution system otherwise than at grid supply points, being the difference between the number of units so entering and the number of units that would have been required to have entered at grid supply points in their absence (such latter number of units being calculated consistently with the principles underlying the schedule of adjustment factors in respect of distribution losses referred to at sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 2 of standard condition 4 (Basis of Charges for Use of System and Connection to System: Requirements for Transparency)).

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E4. For so long as units are metered on entry to the licensee’s distribution system at bulk supply points instead of at grid supply points, such units shall be calculated by:

(i) applying the procedures in paragraph E3 as if all references to units metered at grid supply points were to units metered at bulk supply points; and

(ii) grossing-up units metered at the bulk supply points by the relevant grid supply point conversion factor being either:

(a) 0.5 per cent of the units metered at the bulk supply points; or

(b) such other factor to take account of losses occurring between the grid supply points and the bulk supply points as the licensee may with the prior approval of the Authority determine to be appropriate.

E5. Adjusted units distributed shall be obtained by:

(a) calculating all units distributed by the licensee metered at exit points on leaving the licensee’s distribution system; and

(b) deducting therefrom EHV units and units distributed for the purpose of supply to premises outside the licensee’s distribution services area; and

(c) adding thereto an amount equal to the units consumed on the licensee’s premises in the licensee’s distribution services area (insofar as not otherwise taken into account in determining units distributed under sub-paragraph (a) above).

Initial relevant loss percentage in the term AL_t

E6. The first relevant year, the initial relevant loss percentage in the term AL_t shall (consistently with the methodology set out in paragraphs E2 to E5 above) be deemed to be:

Adjusted GSP purchase units less adjusted units distributed

Adjusted units distributed

where adjusted GSP purchase units are calculated as provided in paragraph E7 and adjusted units distributed are calculated as provided in paragraph E8.

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E7. Adjusted GSP purchase units shall be calculated in accordance with the procedures successively described in the following sub-paragraphs:

(a) the actual losses in each of relevant years t-l, t-2 and t-3 (the “historic losses”) shall be calculated as the difference in each of those years between units purchased at entry points to the licensee’s distribution system and units sold;

(b) the historic loss percentage shall be calculated as the proportion (expressed as a percentage) which the aggregate historic losses were of the aggregate units purchased at entry points to the licensee’s distribution system, in each case over the three relevant years t-l to t-3;

(c) the total number of units sold in relevant year t-l shall be grossed up by the historic loss percentage (“BSP purchase units”); and

(d) the figure for BSP purchase units resulting from sub-paragraph (c) shall be adjusted to obtain adjusted GSP purchase units in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs E3 and E4 above.

E8. Adjusted units distributed shall be calculated by applying the methodology of paragraph E5 in respect of those units referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph E5 in relevant year t-l.

Information to be provided to the Authority

E9. The licensee shall within three months after the entry into force of this licence furnish to the Authority a statement showing the initial relevant loss percentage and the underlying calculations.

E10. The licensee shall, following the end of each relevant year, furnish to the Authority, as being one of the specified items to be included in the statement referred to at paragraph 7 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions), a statement showing adjusted distribution losses for that relevant year, accompanied by the underlying calculations and (where appropriate) an explanation of any changes in the basis of calculation or estimation thereof.

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E11. Where the Authority is satisfied that any statement or underlying calculation provided has not been drawn up in conformity with paragraphs E2 to E8 above, the Authority may issue directions, and the statement or underlying calculation shall be adjusted with effect from the date of issue of the directions or (subject to paragraph 10 of Special Condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions)) such other date as may be specified in the directions.

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Condition G: Incentive Scheme: Calculation of charge restriction adjustment.

1. The purpose of this condition is to establish the incentive scheme referred to in the principal condition so as to provide for adjustments to the charge restriction conditions to reflect the performance of the licensee in achieving targets for quality of supply and the reward scheme.

2. For the purpose of the charge restriction conditions in the relevant year commencing on 1 April 2005, Q _dt is the amount derived from the following formula:

and in each other relevant year t is zero.

3. For the purpose of the charge restriction conditions in the relevant year commencing on 1 April 2005 Z _dt is the amount derived from the following formula:

and in each other relevant year t is zero.

4. For the purpose of paragraph 2, and subject to paragraphs 8 and 10, Q _t is derived in relevant year t from the formula:

5. For the purpose of paragraphs 2 and 3:

I_t means the average specified rate (as defined in paragraph 3 of special condition A (Definitions and Interpretation) in relevant year t.

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6. For the purpose of paragraph 4, in relevant year t:

    

In relevant year t, if DQTR_t is greater than or equal to LMQTR_t and less than or equal to UMQTR_t, q_dt will take the value zero for that relevant year.

In relevant year t, if DQTR_t is less than LMQTR_t, q_dt for that relevant year shall be derived from the following formula:

In relevant year t, if DQTR_t is greater than UMQTR_t, qd_t for that relevant year shall be derived from the following formula:

provided that if, in the relevant year commencing 1 April 2004, the sum of za, zb and qdt is greater than then the value for qd_t shall be determined by the following formula for that year:

where:

TA_t means the target for the number of interruptions for the relevant year t specified in the table in Annex A or determined under paragraph 7;

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TB_t means the target for the duration of interruptions for the relevant year t specified in the table in Annex A or determined under paragraph 7;

IRA_t means the incentive rate for the number of interruptions specified for the relevant year t in the table in Annex A in £ million in 2000/1 prices;

IRB_t means the incentive rate for the duration of interruptions specified for the relevant year t in the table in Annex A in £ million 2000/1 prices;

RLA_t means the maximum percentage of base price control revenue exposed to the number of interruptions specified for the relevant year t in the table in Annex A;

RLB_t means the maximum percentage of base price control revenue exposed to the duration of interruptions specified for the relevant year t in the table in Annex A;

RLD_t means the maximum percentage of base price control revenue exposed to the measure of quality of telephone response specified for the relevant year t in the table in Annex A;

TRL (being the maximum percentage of base price control revenue used in the calculation of qdt in the relevant year t commencing 1 April 2004) has the value of 2;

PIA_t (being the price index adjustor) in relevant year t is derived from the following formula:

where, for the relevant year commencing 1 April 2000, PIA_t=1

RPI_t is defined as in paragraph 3 of special condition B (Restriction of distribution charges);

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BPCR_t (being base price control revenue) in relevant year t is derived from the following formula:

BPCR_t = PUM .GR_t .PD_t

where PUM, GR_t and PID_t in relevant year t are as defined in special condition B (Restriction of distribution charges)

CIIS_t   in relevant year t is derived from the formula:

CIIS_t = CIA_t + CIB_t + (a.CIC_t) + CID_t + (b.CIE_t)

where:

a and b are zero

CIA_t, CIB_t, CIC_t, CID_t and CIE_t in relevant year t are derived from the formula for each of those terms set out in Appendix 2 to the Regulatory Instructions and Guidance.

CMLIS_t   is derived from the formula:

CMLIS_t = CMLA_t + CMLB_t + ( c.CMLC_t) + CMLD_t + (d.CMLE_t)

where:

c and d each have the value 0.10

CMLA_t, CMLB_t, CMLC_t, CMLD_t and CMLE_t in relevant year t are derived from the formula for each of those terms set out in Appendix 2 to the Regulatory Instructions and Guidance

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DQTR_t (being the deemed overall performance score for the licensee in the survey of quality of telephone response, as referred to in the Regulatory Instructions and Guidance) in relevant year t is derived from the formula:

DQTR_t =AQTR_t + (1.96)SE_t

AQTR_t is the actual overall performance score for the licensee in relevant year t, based on all assessed attributes in the survey of quality of telephone response provided to the Authority by the company carrying out that survey, as notified by the Authority to the licensee

SE_t is the standard error of the overall performance score for the licensee in relevant year t in the survey of quality of telephone response as notified by the Authority to the licensee

LMQTR_t is the lower confidence limit of the unweighted mean actual overall performance score in the survey of quality of telephone response of all distribution services providers for whom information is available in relevant year t and is derived from the formula:

LMQTR_t =MQTR_t – (1.96)ISE_t

UMQTR_t is the upper confidence limit of the unweighted mean actual overall performance score in the survey of quality of telephone response of all distribution services providers for whom information is available in relevant year t and is derived from the formula:

UMQTR_t =MQTR_t + (1.96)ISE_t

ISE_t is the standard error of the unweighted mean actual overall performance score in the survey of quality of telephone response of all distribution services providers for whom information is available in relevant year t, as notified by the Authority to the licensee.

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MQTR_t is the unweighted mean actual overall performance score in the survey of quality of telephone response of all distribution services providers for whom information is available in relevant year t as notified by the Authority to the licensee.

QIRA_t (being the incentive rate for below average performance for the quality of telephone response) in relevant year t is derived from the formula:

WDQTR_t is the lowest deemed overall performance score in the survey of quality of telephone response across all distribution services providers for whom information is available in relevant year t as notified by the Authority to the licensee.

QIRB_t (being the incentive rate for above average performance for the quality of telephone response) in relevant year t is derived from the formula:

HDQTR_t is the highest deemed overall performance score in the survey of quality of telephone response across all distribution services providers for whom information is available in relevant year t as notified by the Authority to the licensee.

7. Where the Authority determines, after making any direction under paragraphs 8 or 10, that the value of CIIS_t  or CMLIS_t  in respect of the year commencing on 1 April 2001:

(a) is equal to or less than TA_t or TB_t, as appropriate, in respect of the relevant year commencing on 1 April 2004 in Annex A, then the target in respect of each of the years commencing on 1 April 2002 and 1 April 2003 for the purposes of Annex A shall be modified so as to be the same as the target for the year commencing on 1 April 2004; or

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(b) is greater than TA_t or TB_t, as appropriate, in respect of the relevant year commencing on 1 April 2004 in Annex A, then the target in respect of each of the relevant years commencing on 1 April 2002 and 1 April 2003 for the purposes of Annex A shall be modified so as to be the same as the value so determined in respect of the year commencing on 1 April 2001.

8. Where the report of an examiner specifies that the level of accuracy of any specified information used for the purpose of any formula in this condition or paragraph 7 is less than the level of accuracy specified for such information in the Regulatory Instructions and Guidance, the Authority may, after consulting the licensee and having regard to all relevant information and circumstances and so as to mitigate any distortion arising from that inaccuracy, by notice to the licensee direct the data which shall be used in substitution for that information for the purposes of that relevant formula or paragraph.

9. A notice under paragraph 9 of the principal condition in relation to Appendix 2 to the Regulatory Instructions and Guidance may only specify a date for the purposes of paragraph 9(a)(i) which would be permitted if paragraph 10 of that condition applied.

10. Where:

(a) the licensee considers that its performance in respect of any matter used for the purpose of paragraph 7 or for calculating Q_t, za or zb has been materially and adversely affected by an exceptional event;

(b) the licensee has notified the Authority of such event within 14 days of the date upon which the licensee considers such effect has ceased or, in respect of the relevant year commencing on 1 April 2001, within 14 days of the end of that year;

(c) after the end of the relevant year in which that event occurred, the examiner has reported to the Authority in respect of such event and its effect;

(d) the licensee has provided such further information, if any, as the Authority may require; and

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(e) the Authority is satisfied that the event notified under sub-paragraph (b) is an exceptional event having regard to the criteria contained or referred to in the conclusions document,

the Authority may, by notice to the licensee, direct that, for the purpose of calculating Q_t, za or zb or making a determination under paragraph 7 in respect of the relevant year in which the event occurred, the constituent data relevant to that event shall be adjusted as specified in that direction.

10A. A direction under paragraphs 8 or 10 shall not have effect unless, before it is made, the Authority has given notice to the licensee-

(a) setting out the terms of the proposed direction;

(b) stating the reasons why it proposes to issue the direction; and

(c) specifying the period (not being less than 14 days from the date of the notice) within which the licensee may make representations or objections

and the Authority has considered such representations or objections and given reasons for its decision.

11. For the purposes of paragraphs 3 and 6:

za shall be equal to zero if CIIS_t is greater than TA_t or CMLIS_t is greater than TB_t in the relevant year commencing 1 April 2004. Otherwise it shall be derived from the following formula:

zb shall be equal to zero if CIIS_t is greater than TA_t or CMLIS_t is greater than TB_t. in the relevant year commencing 1 April 2004. Otherwise it shall be derived from the following formula:

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where:

BPCR_t is as defined in paragraph 6 of this condition and is as derived for the relevant year commencing 1 April 2004;

PICI (percentage improvement in the number of customers interrupted) is derived from the formula:

where BCI is TA_t for the relevant year commencing 1 April 2002 and CIIS_t is as derived for the relevant year commencing 1 April 2004.

PICML (percentage improvement in the duration of customer interruptions) is derived from the formula:

where BCML is TB_t for the relevant year commencing 1 April 2002 and CMLIS_t is as derived for the relevant year commencing 1 April 2004; and

RLOPA means the maximum percentage of base price control revenue exposed in the reward scheme for the number of interruptions specified for the relevant year commencing 1 April 2004 in the table in Annex A;

RLOPB means the maximum percentage of base price control revenue exposed in the reward scheme for the duration of interruptions specified for the relevant year commencing 1 April 2004 in the table in Annex A;

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12. In this condition:

(1) “the principal condition” means standard licence condition 49 (Incentive Scheme and Associated Information) and words and phrases defined for the purposes of the principal condition shall have the same meaning in this condition;

(2) “the conclusions document” means the document issued by the Authority entitled “Information and Incentives project Incentive Schemes Final Proposals December 2001 78/01”;

(3) terms defined in the charge restriction conditions and used in this condition shall have the meaning given to them in the charge restriction conditions; and

(4) where the terms “max” and “min” are used in any formula, for any two given amounts X and Y, “min (X,Y)” means X if X-Y is negative and otherwise Y and “max (X,Y)” means Y if X-Y is negative and otherwise X.

Annex A

Relevant year Commencing:	1 April 2002	1 April 2003	1 April 2004
TAt	47.2	47.2	47.2
IRAt (£ million 2000/01 prices)	0.06	0.11	0.11
RLAt	0.25	0.5	0.5
RLOPA			0.6
TBt	65.8	65.8	65.8
IRBt (£ million 2000/01 prices)	0.05	0.12	0.12
RLBt	0.5	1.25	1.25
RLOPB			1.4
RLDt	0.1	0.125	0.125

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SCHEDULE 1

SPECIFIED AREA

Great Britain

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SCHEDULE 2

REVOCATION

1. The Authority may at any time revoke the licence by giving no less than 30 days’ notice (24 hours’ notice, in the case of a revocation under sub-paragraph 1(g)) in writing to the licensee:

(a) if the licensee agrees in writing with the Authority that the licence should be revoked;

(b) if any amount payable under standard condition 3 (Payments by licensee to the Authority) is unpaid 30 days after it has become due and remains unpaid for a period of 14 days after the Authority has given the licensee notice that the payment is overdue - provided that no such notice shall be given earlier than the sixteenth day after the day on which the amount payable became due;

(c) if the licensee fails:

(i) to comply with a final order (within the meaning of section 25 of the Act) or with a provisional order (within the meaning of that section) which has been confirmed under that section and (in either case) such failure is not rectified to the satisfaction of the Authority within three months after the Authority has given notice in writing of such failure to the licensee - provided that no such notice shall be given by the Authority before the expiration of the period within which an application under section 27 of the Act could be made questioning the validity of the final or provisional order or before the proceedings relating to any such application are finally determined; or

(ii) to pay any financial penalty (within the meaning of section 27A of the Act) by the due date for such payment and such payment is not made to the Authority within three months after the Authority has given notice in writing of such failure to the licensee - provided that no such notice shall be given by the Authority before the expiration of the period within which an application under section 27E of the Act could be made questioning the validity or effect of the financial penalty or before the proceedings relating to any such application are finally determined;

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(d) if the licensee fails to comply with:

(i) an order made by the Secretary of State under section 56,73,74 or 89 of the Fair Trading Act 1973; or

(ii) an order made by the court under section 34 of the Competition Act 1998.

(e) if the licensee has not within 5 years after the date on which this licence comes into force, commenced the distribution of electricity to any of the premises within the area specified in Schedule 1 to this licence;

(f) if the licensee has ceased to distribute electricity to all of the premises within the area specified in Schedule 1 to this licence for a period of 5 years;

(g) if the licensee:

(i) is unable to pay its debts (within the meaning of section 123(1) or (2) of the Insolvency Act 1986, but subject to paragraphs 2 and 3 of this schedule) or has any voluntary arrangement proposed in relation to it under section 1 of that Act or enters into any scheme of arrangement (other than for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation upon terms and within such period as may previously have been approved in writing by the Authority);

(ii) has a receiver (which expression shall include an administrative receiver within the meaning of section 251 of the Insolvency Act 1986) of the whole or any material part of its assets or undertaking appointed;

(iii) has an administration order under section 8 of the Insolvency Act 1986 made in relation to it;

(iv) passes any resolution for winding-up other than a resolution previously approved in writing by the Authority; or

(v) becomes subject to an order for winding-up by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(h) if the licensee is convicted of having committed an offence under section 59 of the Act in making its application for the licence.

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2. For the purposes of sub-paragraph l(g)(i), section 123(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986 shall have effect as if for “£750” there was substituted “£100,000” or such higher figure as the Authority may from time to time determine by notice in writing to the licensee.

3. The licensee shall not be deemed to be unable to pay its debts for the purposes of sub-paragraph l(g)(i) if any such demand as is mentioned in section 123(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986 is being contested in good faith by the licensee with recourse to all appropriate measures and procedures or if any such demand is satisfied before the expiration of such period as may be stated in any notice given by the Authority under paragraph 1.

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SCHEDULE 3

DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AREA

The distribution services area shall comprise that area which is outlined on the attached map and shall additionally include those premises listed in List A (the “Additional Premises”) but shall not include those premises listed in List B (the “Excluded Premises”).

A: ADDITIONAL PREMISES

None

B: EXCLUDED PREMISES

(a) PART OF THE DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AREA OF NORWEB PLC

Address	Grid Ref:
Halsall Lane Pumping Station Halsall Lane Ormskirk L39 3AT	SD 4080 0864

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CONSENTS AND DIRECTIONS

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Direction issued under Condition 27 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 29 of this licence (01.04.92)

OUR REF	BW-92-04.14
	[DIR/T/244]

1 April 1992

Mr M G Metcalfe

Head of Regulation

Manweb plc

Sealand Road

CHESTER

CH1 4LR

PUBLIC ELECTRICITY SUPPLY LICENCE: CONDITION 27

DISPOSAL OF RELEVANT ASSETS

The Director General of Electricity Supply (“the Director”) directs that for the purposes of Condition 27 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence (the “Licence”) issued to Manweb plc (the “Licensee”) on 26 March 1990:

1. The Licensee may dispose of a relevant asset without giving prior notice if:

(i) the relevant asset is obsolete or redundant;

(ii) the disposal will not constitute a disposal of a legal (rather than an equitable) interest until the relevant asset is obsolete or redundant; or

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(iii) where the relevant asset comprises only land above or below which an electric line (but not electrical plant) of the licensee is situated, the disposal complies with paragraph 3.

2. The consent in paragraph 1 shall not apply:

(i) in respect of a relevant asset if

(a) the value of that asset;

(b) the value of that asset and other related relevant assets which are being or intended to be disposed of at the same time; or

(c) the value of that asset and other relevant assets which together formed a part of the Licensee’s distribution system and are being declared obsolete or redundant at the same time or as part of the same operation,

exceeds £100,000 (as amended on 1 April each year by the percentage change in the Retail Price Index since 1 April 1990);

(ii) in respect of a relevant asset which is obsolete unless an appropriate replacement or alterative arrangement has been installed in the Licensee’s distribution system, or is being or is intended to be installed in such a manner that continuity of the function of that system is achieved;

(iii) where the disposal constitutes a sale and lease back arrangement;

(iv) where the relevant asset is intended to remain in operational use but not under the operational control of the Licensee and its value exceeds £10,000 (as amended on 1 April each year by the percentage change in the Retail Price Index since 1 April 1990); or

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(v) where the disposal would have the effect of reducing the ability of private electricity suppliers to compete with the Licensee by the use of its system.

3. For the purposes of paragraph 1 (iii) the disposal shall be on terms which will permit the electric line (including any replacement thereof) to remain in position for as long as it forms part o the licensee’s distribution system under a wayleave, easement or other legal estate which in any such case includes sufficient rights of access in favour of the Licensee for the purpose of inspection, maintenance, replacement or repair as may reasonably be necessary to enable that line to remain in operation as part of the Licensee’s distribution system.

4. The Licensee may without giving prior notice dispose of any relevant asset to a wholly owned subsidiary (“the subsidiary”) (as defined in the Companies Act 1985 as amended or re-enacted from time to time) of the Licensee if the Licensee has prior to the disposal delivered to the Director a document duly executed by the subsidiary and the Licensee (in a form capable of being enforced by the Director) undertaking to the Director that:

(i) the subsidiary, in respect of the relevant asset, will comply with the provision of Conditions 27 and 28 of the Licence as if it were the Licensee; and

(ii) the Licensee will not cause or permit the subsidiary to cease to be its wholly owned subsidiary without the prior written consent of the Director to the disposal of the relevant asset(s) owned by the subsidiary.

5. The Licensee may without giving prior notice grant to a third party an easement, wayleave, licence or similar right over any land or property in which the Licensee has a legal or beneficial interest and which is a relevant asset, save where the grant of such a right would have a material adverse effect on the Licensee’s ability to use or develop the land for the purposes of the Licensee’s Distribution Business.

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6. The Licensee may without giving prior notice dispose of any relevant asset to another Licensee provided that:

(i) the Licensee to whom disposal is made is subject to the provisions of licence conditions equivalent to condition 27 and 28 of the Licence;

(ii) the relevant asset will become a relevant asset under those equivalent licence conditions upon disposal;

(iii) the Licensee will be able to fulfil the duties arising under or by virtue of the Licence after disposal of the relevant asset.

7. The consent contained in paragraphs 1, 4, 5 and 6 relates only to Condition 27 and shall not apply or be deemed to apply for the purpose of any consent or approval which the director may or may be required to give in relation to a disposal under any other Condition or under the Act.

8. In this direction:

“obsolete” means no longer performs its required function either in an efficient manner or at all through wear and tear, obsolescence, damage, failure, unsafe operation or advances in technology and includes equipment that the Licensee has decided to render obsolete as a result of inspection;

“prior notice” means a notice to the Director under paragraph 2 of condition 27 of the Licence;

“redundant” means no longer required or necessary in order to enable the Licensee to comply with its obligations under the Act or the Licence in relation to the Licensee’s distribution system provided that a relevant asset shall not be regarded as being redundant solely because it is in the ownership or control of a third party;

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“value” means the estimated price that could be expected to be received in the market at the time of disposal;

and other words and phrases in this Direction which are defined for the purposes of the Licence shall have the same meaning as in the Licence.

DR B WHARMBY

Authorised on behalf of the

Director General of Electricity Supply

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Direction issued under Condition 12 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 39 of this licence (19.04.00)

Direction given under Condition 12 of the public electricity supply licence of Manweb plc

In accordance with paragraph 7 of Condition 12 of the public electricity supply licence held by Manweb plc (the Licensee), the Director hereby directs as follows.

The Licensee shall, to the extent that it is not already compliant with its obligations as at 31^st March 2000, be relieved of such obligations for the duration of this direction:

• under paragraphs 2 to 4 of Condition 12; and

• under paragraphs 5 and 6 of Condition 12

in each case subject to the terms and conditions set out below.

The Separation Plan

1. The Licensee shall use all reasonable endeavours to comply with the terms of the Separation Plan.

2. The Separation Plan shall be the document attached to this direction as Annex A, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with paragraphs 7 and 8 below.

3. Where the Separation Plan specifies a date by which an action is to be completed, the Licensee shall use all reasonable endeavours to complete the action by that date.

4. Where the Separation Plan does not specify a date by which an action is to be completed, the Licensee shall use all reasonable endeavours to make progress towards the completion of the action as soon as is reasonably practicable.

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5. The Licensee shall report to the Director on its compliance with the terms of the Separation Plan at least once every 3 months during the currency of this direction.

6. The Licensee shall review its compliance with the terms of the Separation Plan, together with the Director and in the light of its reports and of any reports of the Compliance Officer, at least once every 6 months during the currency of this direction.

7. When the Licensee reviews its compliance under paragraph 6 above, or at any other time when there is a material change in the Licensee’s circumstances, the Director may (giving his reasons) request that the Licensee review the terms of the Separation Plan with a view to its amendment. The Licensee shall, within 28 days of any such request, propose changes to the relevant part of the Plan. Any such changes shall require to be approved by the Director.

8. The Licensee may at any time request the Director to approve changes to the Separation Plan.

Confidential Information

9. Subject to paragraph 10 below, and save as provided for in the Separation Plan, the Licensee shall not engage for the purposes of the Distribution Business the same employees, agents, advisers, consultants or contractors as are engaged for the purposes of any other business of itself (or any affiliate or related undertaking).

10. Paragraph 9 above shall not apply insofar as:

(a) in the case of agents, advisers, consultants or contractors engaged by the Distribution Business and also by any other business of the Licensee (or by any affiliate or related undertaking) (“the appointees”), the Licensee has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure that:

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(i) the Distribution Business does not give any cross-subsidy to or receive any cross-subsidy from that other business; and

(ii) the appointees cannot have access to confidential information about the Distribution Business unless effective arrangements are maintained in place which prevent the use or disclosure of such information in any way which would obtain a commercial advantage for any other business and that such information is used only for the purpose of the Distribution Business or any external distribution activities of the Licensee;

or

(b) in any particular case, the Licensee has obtained the prior written approval of the Director.

Duration and Interpretation

11. The direction in respect of paragraph 2 to 4 of Condition 12 shall cease to have effect on 31 March 2002. The direction in respect of paragraph 5 to 6 of Condition 12 shall cease to have effect on 31 March 2002, unless on or before that date the Licensee has demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director that it is, and will remain, in compliance with the requirements of paragraph 7 (c) of Condition 12, in which event this direction shall cease to have effect on 31 March 2005.

12. Words and phrases used in this direction shall, unless the contrary intention appears, have the same meaning as in the public electricity supply licence held by the Licensee.

PAM BARRETT

Authorised on behalf of the Director 19 April 2000

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Direction issued under Condition 12 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 39 of this licence (19.04.00)

The Electricity Act 1989

Sections 6 and 7

Public Electricity Supply Licences granted to Scottish Power UK plc and Manweb plc

Direction

of the

Director General of Electricity Supply

Whereas –

(1) Scottish Power UK plc (“SP”) and Manweb plc (“Manweb”) are the holders of public electricity supply licences granted under section 6(1)(c) of the Electricity Act 1989 (the SP and Manweb Licences respectively).

(2) SP and Manweb are members of the same group of companies.

(3) Condition 9 in Part V of the SP Licence and condition 12 of the Manweb Licence (the “Conditions”) require the Distribution Businesses of SP and of Manweb to have information separation and managerial and operational independence from other businesses of SP and of Manweb.

(4) Paragraph (7) of each of the Conditions provides that the Director may issue a direction relieving each licence holder from certain of its obligations under the Conditions.

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(5) SP and Manweb each have requested the Director to issue a direction relieving them from the above mentioned obligations to the extent necessary for the Distribution Businesses of SP and Manweb to be managed and operated as a single business.

(6) In response to the request the Director is satisfied that, having regard to the terms of paragraph (7) of the Conditions, he is entitled to issue directions in the manner hereinafter appearing.

NOW THEREFORE THE DIRECTOR ISSUES THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION –

1. The terms “Distribution Business of SP” and “Distribution Business of Manweb” have the meaning given to the term “Distribution Business” in the SP and Manweb licences respectively.

2. This Direction is issued for the purposes of the paragraphs numbered 7 in both Condition 9 in Part V of the SP Licence and Condition 12 of the Manweb Licence.

3. SP and Manweb are relieved of their obligations under paragraphs 1 to 6 of Condition 9 in Part V of the SP Licence and Condition 12 of the Manweb Licence respectively to such extent as is necessary for the management and operation of the Distribution Business of SP and the Distribution Business of Manweb to be managed and operated as a single business subject to the conditions that –

(a) in the case of paragraph 5 and sub-paragraph 6(b) of the Conditions, any arrangements for the use of or access to premises, systems, equipment facilities, property or personnel by both the Distribution Businesses of SP and of Manweb:

(i) do not involve a cross-subsidy being given to the SP Distribution Business from the Manweb Distribution Business or received from the SP Distribution Business by the Manweb Distribution Business;

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(ii) obtain for the Distribution Businesses, in the most efficient and economical manner possible, the use of the relevant premises, systems, equipment, facilities, property or personnel; and

(iii) do not restrict, distort or prevent competition in the generation or supply of electricity; and

(b) nothing in this Direction shall relieve either SP of Manweb from any obligation in respect of any Separation Plan prepared for the purpose of or in relation to any other Direction given pursuant to paragraph 7 of either of the Conditions;

4. This Direction shall cease to have effect on the earlier of

(a) notification by the Director to SP and to Manweb that he is satisfied that there has been a material failure to comply with the condition set out in paragraph 3 above;

(b) the Conditions ceasing to have effect; or

(c) the expiry of 28 days from the date of service on the Director by either SP or Manweb of a request for the revocation of the Direction.

Pam Barrett

Authorised in that behalf by

the Director General of

Electricity Supply

Date 19.4.2000

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Direction issued under Condition 12 of the Public Electricity Supply Licence of Manweb plc now Standard Condition 39 of this licence (28.07.00)

The Electricity Act 1989

Sections 6 and 7

Electricity Transmission Licence granted to Scottish Power (UK) plc

Public Electricity Supply Licences granted to Scottish Power (UK) plc and Manweb plc

Direction

of the

Director General of Electricity Supply

Whereas –

(1) Scottish Power (UK) plc (“SP”) is the holder of a transmission licence (“the Transmission Licence”) granted under section 6(1)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989 (“the Act”).

(2) SP and Manweb plc (“Manweb”) are the holders of public electricity supply licences granted under section 6(1)(c) of the Act (“the SP PES Licence” and “the Manweb PES Licence” respectively).

(3) SP and Manweb are members of the same group of companies.

(4) Condition 8 in Part IV of the Transmission Licence (“Condition 8”) prohibits SP from disclosing confidential information.

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(5) Condition 8A in Part IV of the Transmission Licence (“Condition 8A”) requires SP to maintain the full managerial and operational independence of the Transmission Business of SP from other businesses of SP and of its affiliates and related undertakings.

(6) Paragraph (9) of Condition 8A provides that the Director in certain circumstances may issue a direction relieving SP of its obligations under Condition 8 and under paragraphs 1(a), 2 and 8 of Condition 8A to such extent and subject to such terms and conditions as he may specify in that direction.

(7) Condition 9 in Part V of the SP PES Licence (“Condition 9”) and Condition 12 of the Manweb PES Licence (“Condition 12”) require the Distribution Businesses of SP and of Manweb to have information separation and managerial and operational independence from other businesses of SP and of Manweb.

(8) Paragraph (7) of each of the Condition 9 and Condition 12 provides that the Director in certain circumstances may issue a direction relieving SP and Manweb from certain of their obligations under the Conditions.

(9) SP and Manweb have requested the Director to issue directions relieving them from their above mentioned obligations to the extent necessary for the Transmission and Distribution Businesses of SP to be managed and operated as a single business with the Distribution Business of Manweb.

(10) In response to the request the Director is satisfied that, having regard to the terms of paragraph (9) of Condition 8A and to paragraph (7) of each of Condition 9 and Condition 12, he is entitled to issue a direction in the manner hereinafter appearing.

NOW THEREFORE THE DIRECTOR ISSUES THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION -

1. Except where the context requires otherwise, any terms used in this direction that are defined in Part 1 of the composite document setting out the generation and public electricity supply licences of SP and the Transmission Licence shall have the meaning given to them in that Part.

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2. This direction is issued for the purposes of paragraph (9) of Condition 8A and of paragraph (7) of each of Condition 9 and Condition 12.

3. SP is relieved of its obligations under Condition 8 and paragraphs 1(a), 2 and 8 of Condition 8A and SP and Manweb are relieved of their obligations under paragraphs 1 to 6 of Condition 9 and Condition 12 respectively to such extent as is necessary for the Transmission and Distribution Businesses of SP to be managed and operated as a single business with the Distribution Business of Manweb subject to the conditions that –

(a) any arrangements for the use of or access to premises, systems, equipment, facilities, property or personnel by the Transmission and Distribution Businesses of SP and the Distribution Businesses of Manweb;

(i) do not involve a cross-subsidy being given by any one of the Transmission or Distribution Businesses of SP or the Manweb Distribution Business to any other of those businesses;

(ii) obtain for the Transmission and Distribution Businesses of SP and the Manweb Distribution Business, in the most efficient and economical manner possible, the use of the relevant premises, systems, equipment, facilities, property or personnel; and

(iii) do not restrict, distort or prevent competition in the generation or supply of electricity;

(b) nothing in this direction shall relieve either SP or Manweb from any obligation in respect of any Separation Plan prepared for the purpose of any of the conditions of the SP and Manweb PES Licences; and

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(c) nothing in this direction shall relieve either SP or Manweb from any obligation imposed on them by Directive 96/92/EC.

4. This direction shall cease to have effect on the earlier of –

(a) notification by the Director to SP and to Manweb that he is satisfied that there has been a material failure to comply with the condition set out in paragraph 3 above;

(b) Condition 8, Condition 8A, Condition 9 or Condition 12 ceasing to have effect; or

(c) the expiry of 28 days from the date of service on the Director by either SP or Manweb of a request for the revocation of the direction.

The Official Seal of the Director General

of Electricity Supply hereunto affixed is

authenticated by

Charles Coulthard

Authorised in that behalf by the Director

General of Electricity Supply

Date 28 July 2000

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Consent issued under Standard Condition 47 of this licence (01.10.01)

To Manweb plc

Manweb House

Chester Business Park

Wrexham Road

Chester

CH4 9RF

Consent under Distribution Standard Licence Condition 47

1. This consent is issued by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (“the Authority”) to the Licensee under paragraph 1 of the above condition (“the Condition”).

2. The Authority hereby consents to the Licensee being a party to a group registration scheme with HM Customs & Excise for value added tax (“VAT”) purposes, subject to the following condition, namely that throughout the period during which such registration subsists, the Licensee shall have the benefit of a legally enforceable undertaking and indemnity from the controlling member of the VAT group in respect of which the registration has been made whereby the Licensee is kept indemnified from any liability to VAT (including interest, penalties and costs) which does not arise out of the authorised business of the Licensee under the Licence but which is claimed against the Licensee as a result of such group registration.

3. This consent shall have effect on and from the date specified below. It shall remain in effect until the Authority shall withdraw it or replace it by a further consent made under the Condition.

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4. Words and expressions used in this consent have the meaning attributed to them in the said Standard Licence Conditions.

Dated: 1 October 2001

Signed

John Neilson

Duly authorised in that behalf by the Authority

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General Consent issued under Standard Condition 29 of this licence (01.10.01)

THE ELECTRICITY ACT 1989 (AS AMENDED)

ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION LICENCES

GENERAL CONSENT ISSUED PURSUANT TO STANDARD LICENCE CONDITION 29 (DISPOSAL OF RELEVANT ASSETS) OF THE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION LICENCE

This direction is issued by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (“the Authority”) under paragraph 3(a)(i) of Condition 29 (Disposal of relevant assets) in the standard licence conditions of the electricity distribution licences granted or treated as granted under section 6(1)(c) of the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended) (“the Act”).

The provisions of this direction are applicable to, and available for, every holder (“the licensee”) of such an electricity distribution licence (“the licence”). The direction takes effect on and from the date specified below.

The Authority hereby directs that the licensee may enter into an agreement or arrangement whereby operational control of a relevant asset or relevant assets ceases to be under the sole management of the licensee without giving prior notice in any case where the agreement or arrangement (for these purposes called “the transaction”) complies in all respect with the terms set out below:

1. The transaction shall be consistent with all applicable conditions contained in the licence.

2. Any other consent or clearance required under statute or under the licence in respect of the transaction shall have been obtained.

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3. The transaction shall provide for the supply of a service or the provision of a resource which relates to a relevant asset or relevant assets by a counter-party (“the resource provider”) on behalf of the licensee.

4. The resource provider shall be and remain an affiliate of the licensee but shall not be a holding company of the licensee.

5. The transaction shall be effected by contract made between the licensee and the resource provider; such contract shall be binding and enforceable both in Great Britain and in any other jurisdiction in which the resource provider has its principal place of business; and the contract shall contain provisions to the following effect:

(a) no force majeure or equivalent provision in the contract shall excuse any failure on the part of the licensee, or the resource provider acting on its behalf, to comply with the licensee’s statutory or licence obligations unless (and to the extent that) the event or circumstance in question would have excused the licensee under the Act or the licence if it had itself performed the service or provided the resource;

(b) responsibility for performance of all obligations to which the contract relates shall be clearly specified, subject to the overriding requirement that the licensee remains ultimately responsible for all statutory and licence obligations applicable to the licensee’s business;

(c) the resource provider shall covenant with the licensee to refrain from any action which would then be likely to cause the licensee to breach any of its licence or statutory obligations;

(d) the resource provider shall disclose to the licensee the basis or bases of all charges for services provided or supplies made pursuant to the contract, together with sufficient information and analysis to support the basis for the calculation of the total sum payable by the licensee; and the resource provider shall not raise any objection to, or seek to prevent, disclosure of such information to the Authority.

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(e) the licensee shall be free, at any time after the fifth anniversary of the commencement of the contract, without penalty and on reasonable notice, to resource any service or supply from an alternative source of its choosing if more favourable terms become available; and

(f) the resource provider shall be under obligation to provide to the licensee any information within its possession or control which the licensee may from time to time require in order to enable the licensee:

(i) to comply with any request by the Authority for information or reports pursuant to Condition 24 (Provision of Information to the Authority) of the licence (subject to paragraphs 5 and 7 of that condition);

(ii) to assess the performance or position of the resource provider or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the provision of any service or supply made to the licensee; or

(iii) to monitor adherence by the resource provider to the terms of the contract.

6.     (1) The licensee shall procure from that company or other corporate body which is from time to time the ultimate holding company of the licensee and the resource provider, or from such other corporate body as the Authority may from time to time agree, acknowledgements and legally enforceable undertakings in favour of the licensee in the form annexed to this direction and headed Form A. Such acknowledgements and undertakings shall be obtained within seven days of the company or other corporate body in question (“the covenantor”) becoming such ultimate holding company and shall remain in force for so long as the covenantor remains such ultimate holding company.

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(2) For the purpose of this paragraph “ultimate holding company” means the company or other corporate body which is the holding company of both the licensee and the resource provider and is not itself a subsidiary of another company or corporate body.

(3) The licensee shall:

(a) deliver to the Authority evidence (including a copy of the acknowledgements and undertakings) that the licensee has complied with its obligation to procure acknowledgements and undertakings pursuant to this paragraph;

(b) inform the Authority immediately in writing if the directors of the licensee become aware that any such undertaking has ceased to be legally enforceable or that its terms have been breached; and

(c) comply with any direction from the Authority to enforce any such undertaking.

(4) The licensee shall not, save with the consent in writing of the Authority, obtain or continue to obtain the service or resource in question from the resource provider at any time when:

(a) the specified acknowledgements and undertakings are not in place; or

(b) there is an unremedied breach of any undertaking; or

(c) the licensee is in breach of any direction issued by the Authority under sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph.

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7. The consent given by this direction applies only for the purpose of the said Condition 29 and shall not apply or be deemed to apply for any other purpose.

8. Words or phrases in this direction which are defined for the purposes of the licence shall have the same meaning as in the licence.

Dated 1 October 2001

Signed

Richard Ramsay

duly authorised by the Authority in that behalf

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ANNEXURE TO THE DIRECTION BY THE GAS AND ELECTRICITY MARKETS AUTHORITY MADE PURSUANT TO STANDARD CONDITION 29 IN THE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION LICENCE ON THE                     2001

Form A

Acknowledgements and Undertakings

Acknowledgements

The covenantor acknowledges to the licensee:

(1) that it is in the best interest of the covenantor that the licensee complies with its statutory and licence obligations; and

(2) that all matters relating to the enforcement of the licensee’s rights under the relevant contract(s) shall be reserved to the directors of the licensee without regard to other interests.

Undertakings

The covenantor undertakes to the licensee:

(1) to procure that the resource provider will:

(a) refrain from any action which would then be likely to cause the licensee to breach any of its statutory or licence obligations;

(b) provide the licensee with any information within its possession or control which the licensee may from time to time require in order to enable the licensee:

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- to comply with any request by the Authority for information or reports pursuant to Condition 24 (Provision of Information to the Authority) of the licence (subject to paragraphs 5 and 7 of that condition);

- to assess the performance or position of the resource provider or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the provision of any service or supply made to the licensee; or

- to monitor adherence by the resource provider to the terms of the contract;

(a) not unduly discriminate in favour of, or against, the licensee in the provision to it of supplies or services; and

(b) not take any action which would constitute disposal of, or relinquishment of operation control over, any asset to which Condition 29 of the licence applies save in accordance with the requirements of that condition and any consent issued by the Authority under it (other than to the licensee upon the expiry or termination of any relevant contract in accordance with its terms);

(1) to procure that any contract between the licensee and the resource provider shall comply with the requirements set out in the direction to which this form is annexed and shall not be amended so as to cease in any way to be compliant with those requirements; and

(2) to procure that the resource provider has and maintains resources and operating capacity at a level sufficient to ensure efficient performance of the contract and the efficient discharge of the relevant obligations of the licensee.

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